CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A half-foot of snow is possible in a handful of West Virginia’s mountain counties Friday night into Saturday when cold air from the west collides with moisture that’s been soaking the state since Thursday.
The National Weather Service has posted a Winter Weather Advisory for parts of Randolph, Pocahontas, Nicholas and Webster counties from Friday evening to Saturday evening. Meteorologist Ross Giarratana said the colder air from the west will cause the rain to change to snow.
“The mountains could pick up to five inches to six inches locally,” Giarratana said.
Friday is the first official day of winter.
Soaking rain was covering many counties late Friday morning. Giarratana said another inch of rain was expected by the time the change takes place. The lowlands will also could pick up some snow, he said.
“Overnight lower elevations will finish off with a coating of snow, maybe a half-inch to an inch or so,” Giarratana said.
The impact of the soaking rain during the day Friday was enough to keep an eye one.
“It’s certainly enough to cause some concerns, at least to keep creeks and streams elevated, but right now we don’t have any flood watches for the lower elevations,” Giarratana said.
The flood watches were posted in the eastern mountains and the eastern panhandle.