CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Preparations for the first significant snowfall of the year in West Virginia is well underway by road crews.
As the heavy rain turns into snow as the temperatures fall late Monday afternoon, the prep work can get tricky according to City of Charleston Public Works Director Brent Webster.
“You can’t treat the roads in a rain event. As long as it is raining like this, it will melt any salt. You almost have to wait for it to transition over, you have to watch,” Webster said on MetroNews flagship 580-WCHS in Charleston.
Up to an inch of rain has fallen in parts of the state Sunday evening into Monday afternoon. Most high temperatures for cities in the Mountain State occurred early Monday morning as the temperatures continued to fall throughout the day.
Tony Edwards, a National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist appeared on Monday’s MetroNews ‘Talkline’ and said the only part of the state that may not see snow is the eastern panhandle. He said the low-pressure system is tracking right across the state from the south
“The Eastern Panhandle is going to fare pretty well with this, they will not get a whole lot of snow. The rest of the state, especially the mountains, are going to get a good dumping of snow,” Edwards said.
“In general, the lower elevations are going to get one to four inches of snow depending on your location and once you get into the mountains four to a foot of snow.”
Multiple winter weather watches and advisories are out across the state including an advisory for McDowell, Wyoming, Southeast Raleigh, Southeast Fayette, Southeast Nicholas, Southeast Webster, Southeast Pocahontas, Mercer, Summers, Eastern Greenbrier, and Western Greenbrier from 4 p.m. Monday to 7 p.m. Tuesday. 3 to 5 inches of snow expected in those parts.
The advisory in Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Marion, and Monongalia from 1 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday is calling for two to four inches of snow in spots.
Counties in an advisory form 8 p.m. Monday to 7 p.m. Tuesday with a two to four inches of snow outlook are Wayne, Cabell, Mason, Jackson, Wood, Pleasants, Tyler, Lincoln, Putnam, Kanawha, Roane, Wirt, Calhoun, Ritchie, Doddridge, Mingo, Logan, Boone, Clay, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Harrison, Taylor, Upshur, Barbour, Northwest Raleigh, Northwest Fayette, Northwest Nicholas, Northwest Webster, and Northwest Randolph.
!!!Snow expected tonight into Tuesday!!! A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for tonight & Tuesday for most areas. Area mountains have a Winter Storm Warning in effect. You can go to https://t.co/aW8kk5RDx0 for additional snow maps. #vawx #ohwx #kywx #vawx pic.twitter.com/EvnfOmUtuT
— NWS Charleston, WV (@NWSCharlestonWV) November 30, 2020