CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A winter storm is set to traverse much of West Virginia over a quick 24-hour period, beginning late Monday night. The storm has already made its way through the Midwest and is expected to impact the state moving from the southwest to the northeast. This storm system will take a diagonal route across West Virginia, leaving a combination of wintry weather in its wake.
According to Jeremy Michael, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Charleston, diverse forms of precipitation will likely be observed across many locations. “It wouldn’t be a shock for quite a few locations to see a little bit of everything—rain, snow, sleet, and freezing rain as this system moves through,” he explained.
As a result of the anticipated weather, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for almost all counties from 11 p.m. Monday until 1 p.m. Tuesday. Commuters, especially those in southern and eastern counties, should prepare for challenging conditions during Tuesday morning’s rush hour.
Michael warned that, particularly in areas where snow persists or temperatures hover around freezing, difficulties could arise. Despite forecasts suggesting that the I-79 corridor between Charleston and Braxton County might experience mainly rain, Michael advised residents to remain alert as conditions could quickly shift to icy patches. “The fluctuation in temperatures could vary only a few degrees and be the difference in rain and freezing rain or even ice,” he noted.
Expected snow accumulations could reach up to two inches, particularly in the western lowlands and mountainous regions. Moreover, the storm is likely to produce ice accumulation on various surfaces. Weather conditions will continue to linger in the mountains and parts of the Eastern Panhandle into late Tuesday, but clear skies are anticipated by Wednesday. Meteorologists are also keeping an eye on another potential system that may arrive later in the week and into the weekend.