MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The first snow of 2019 for the eastern panhandle is expected this weekend.
“We’re looking at that snow moving in the afternoon tomorrow (Saturday),” Accuweather Meteorologist Bill Deger told MetroNews affiliate WEPM. “It’s when we get closer to lunchtime that we expect the first snowflakes to fall late-morning, mid-day. It starts accumulating in the afternoon because we’re only talking about a high around the freezing mark of 32 (degrees).”
Accuweather’s Friday afternoon forecast for Sunday called for 2-4 inches of snow, but Deger said that amount could vary. The mountainous areas of Morgan County and west could see higher accumulation.
“If I had to be a betting man, I’d lean a little closer to that 4 inch total. Maybe even some localized amounts of 5 or 6 inches out there. So this will be a plowable snow. At least a snow that we have to get out and shovel over the weekend.”
West Virginia Division of Highways crews were placing salt on primary routes in Berkeley County Thursday. The low Saturday night for Martinsburg is forecasted to be 26 with a low of 19 on Sunday night.
“You probably will see some slick spots especially after dark tomorrow (Saturday) night and before sunrise Sunday morning,” said Deger. “That’s when temperatures will be below freezing. Of course we don’t have the benefit of the daylight hours, the sunshine behind the clouds, helping to melt the snow on the roads. So I’m especially concerned about that.”
#Snow likely begins during the day Saturday across the region & lasts into Sunday afternoon. Attached is winter storm threat map that combines confidence & potential impact. For potential snow accumulations in your area, click here: https://t.co/DtvXcTe0Qk pic.twitter.com/EoyM9VkcpF
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) January 10, 2019
The National Weather Service’s Baltimore/DC office listed the entire eastern panhandle on its “Winter Storm Threat” map.