A low pressure system centered over Kentucky is expected to push northeast this evening, which will bring a hook of cold air rushing into West Virginia later today and tonight. Forecasters say it could bring snow if it doesn’t push the moisture out first.
“It may transition to more of a drizzle event for late tonight into tomorrow for the southern areas,” said meteorologist Tim Axford at the Charleston Weather Bureau. “No going into the northern areas, the mountains, and the panhandles — it takes a little longer for that moisture to get out of there. Those areas that haven’t transitioned to snow will tonight fully transition to snow.”
Ahead of the system Randolph and Pocahontas Counties are under an ice storm warning. Ice could accumulate up to one-third of an inch before the rain turns to snow this evening. Officials fear it could cause dangerous travel conditions and potentially caused power outages.
Accumulations will be vary depending on location and elevation.
“Generally the northern panhandle, Morgantown area and much of the inhabited areas of the mountain counties down in the valleys we’re looking at 1 to 3 inches,” said Axford. “In the mountains it will be more like 3 to 5 inches.”
The system should be pushed out of West Virginia by Friday with a weak high pressure system raising temperatures above freezing.