State prepares for rain, ice, snow, significant temperature drop

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice has put all 55 counties under a State of Preparedness with frigid cold temperatures headed into the state by the end of the week.

Jim Justice

“It’s going to get pretty tough, that’s all there is to it,” Justice said at his media briefing Tuesday. “The way this thing looks this thing is going to start to turn and get pretty nasty.”

According to meteorologists, it’s going to begin raining Wednesday night and through the day on Thursday with the possibility of some freezing rain and ice in the higher elevations. Arctic air will enter the state late Thursday night into early Friday morning with the possibility of a flash freeze.

Rain is expected to change to snow as the temperatures drop 30 to 40 degrees overnight Thursday into Friday but the system is expected to pass through quickly. Snow of the light and fluffy variety is expected and many areas could get less than two inches by early Friday morning.

The significant temperature change and the possibility of a flash freeze and sustained winds for up to 30 hours are attracting the most attention.

Temperatures will drop to the single digits across the state Friday night and temperatures won’t get out of the teens on Christmas Eve. Many areas will warm to the low-20s on Christmas Day. It could be the coldest Christmas period since 2015.

GE McCabe

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Hampshire, Hardy, Grant, Mineral and Pendleton counties from Thursday morning to Thursday afternoon with the possibility of what’s described as “heavy mixed precipitation” including ice and snow.

Gov. Justice’s State of Preparedness declaration allows for resources to be put into place.

Agencies are on standby to report to the State Emergency Operations Center at the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (EMD) if necessary. There are daily briefings with that National Weather Service and communication with county officials.

The EMD watch center has increased staffing through the holiday weekend, according to state EMD Director GE McCabe.

“EMD monitors for any events that may threaten the citizens of West Virginia, including severe weather,” McCabe in a news release. “We’re prepared at all times to respond should there be an emergency, even on holidays.”





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