CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Cold winds were blowing through West Virginia in the final days of January with real temperatures expected to fall below zero in most locations by Thursday morning and even colder wind chills in places.
“There are many hazards that come with the cold,” said Lora Lipscomb, public information officer for the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
In Charleston, with cold weather in the forecast, officials with the DHSEM and the West Virginia National Guard were in touch at least daily with their emergency management counterparts in all 55 counties.
“Anytime of day, there’s someone here monitoring the weather and monitoring all the counties to make sure that no one needs anything or, if there is a need, we meet it as soon as possible,” Lipscomb said.
The Arctic air pouring into West Virginia was coming courtesy of a strong polar vortex that was affecting a big chunk of the United States.
It would keep daytime highs in West Virginia in the single digits to below zero for a couple of days after Tuesday.
As of Tuesday morning, most of West Virginia’s counties were under Winter Weather Advisories from the National Weather Service for cold and snow following a “flash freeze.”
By Wednesday morning, Wind Chill Advisories were posted for much of the Mountain State.
A Wind Chill Advisory is issued for conditions in which cold air and the wind combine to create low wind chills. Frostbite and hypothermia can occur if precautions, including the use of hats and gloves, were not taken.
In some of the northern mountain counties, Wind Chill Warnings were posted beginning as soon as Tuesday evening.
A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and the wind will create dangerously low wind chill values. It’s the kind of cold that can quickly lead to frostbite and hypothermia.
Additional Wind Chill Advisories and Wind Chill Warnings would be needed early Thursday for even colder temperatures, meteorologists said.
At times in the coming days, forecasters said wind chill temperatures could drop to -40 near Snowshoe in Pocahontas County. Whiteout conditions were possible.
Wind chill warnings and advisories have been posted for portions of the mid-Ohio River Valley and central Appalachians. The lowest wind chill values are expected early Thursday morning. pic.twitter.com/Drj2lf0lnq
— NWS Charleston, WV (@NWSCharlestonWV) January 29, 2019
In Charleston, the first warming centers opened to get people out of the cold on Tuesday morning.
Lipscomb said similar shelters to be staffed with volunteers were on standby in other parts of West Virginia, if needed.
On the roads, the state Division of Highways had pre-positioned equipment and supplies before rain began changing over to snow as temperatures plummeted early Tuesday morning.
Lipscomb reminded drivers that salt loses its effectiveness below 20 degrees.
For DOH crews in the cold, “They’re using what they call an aggregate to melt some of the ice, but it does refreeze quickly so we’re asking people to monitor their road conditions,” she said.
Aggregate, like sand or other materials, allows for additional traction.
Statewide road conditions can be checked at www.wv511.org.
Cold days and nights, Lipscomb said, were also good times to look out for fellow West Virginians.
“Make sure you stop in and check on those neighbors, just to make sure that they’re okay — that they have enough heat, that they have enough groceries or water or any kind of medical supplies they need,” she said.
By Saturday, meteorologists with the National Weather Service says temperatures would return to average with above average temperatures possible on Sunday.