CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Mild temperatures that began the first full week of January will quickly turn to winter weather conditions Wednesday morning.
The National Weather Service has placed more than two dozen counties under a Winter Weather Advisory beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Snow is expected from Preston County in the north to Mercer County in the south. The advisory also covers an west to east area covering Wood to Randolph counties.
An advisory from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday includes Jackson, Wood, Pleasants, Tyler, Lincoln, Putnam, Kanawha, Roane, Wirt, Calhoun, Ritchie, Doddridge, Boone, Clay, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Harrison, Wyoming, Raleigh and Pocahontas counties.
Total accumulations of 1 to 3 inches is expected in the lowlands with 2 to 4 inches in higher elevations.
A second advisory for parts of Taylor, Upshur, Barbour, Fayette, Nicholas, Webster and Randolph counties calls for 3 to 5 inches of snow with locally higher amounts.
According to the National Weather Service a Winter Weather Advisory for snow means “periods of snow will cause primarily travel difficulties. Expect snow covered roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving.”
The state’s highest elevations in Randolph and Pocahontas counties, including Snowshoe Mountain, have been placed under a Winter Storm Warning for Wednesday with 8 to 12 inches of snow forecasted. The warning is from 4 a.m. Wednesday to noon Thursday.