CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The entire state of West Virginia is under a Winter Storm Warning through Saturday night with heavy, wet snow, sleet and rain all in the forecast.
The day began with freezing rain on the I-64 corridor between Huntington and Charleston before turning to heavy, wet snow.
The ice in the Kanawha Valley caused power outages. Appalachian Power reported nearly 3,000 customers without service in Kanawha County at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The National Weather Service said residents living in Wayne, Cabell, Lincoln, Mingo, Logan, Boone, McDowell and Wyoming counties could see up to 3-5 inches of heavy, wet snow Saturday morning before a changeover to sleet and rain as temperatures warm.
It’s expected to stay colder longer in Mason, Jackson, Wood, Pleasants, Tyler, Roane, Wirt, Calhoun, Ritchie, Doddridge, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Harrison, Taylor, Upshur and Barbour counties where areas could see 4-6 inches of snow before the change to rain.
The 3-5 inch snow forecast is also in effect for Putnam, Kanawha, Clay, Raleigh, Fayette, Nicholas and Webster counties.
The National Weather Service said Pocahontas and Randolph counties could receive 8-12 inches of snow Saturday.
North central West Virginia counties including Monongalia and Marion counties could pick up 3-7 inches of snow Saturday with a similar amount in the northern panhandle.
The eastern panhandle counties are looking at a possible accumulation of 1-3 inches while Mineral, Pendleton, Grant and Hardy counties could see anywhere from 3-9 inches of snow.
Meteorologists said rain should cover the state with temperatures in the mid to upper 30s by Saturday night.
Widespread flurries are expected across the state Sunday with frigid temperatures set to return Monday.