CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The National Weather Service advanced a handful of county’s to a winter storm warning Monday with heavier snow than originally forecasted.
The warning covers Kanawha, Boone, Clay, Fayette and parts of Nicholas and Raleigh counties.
Those areas are now expected to get 3 to 5 inches of snow with the possibility of higher amounts on the ridgetops.
The warning will be in effect until 9 p.m. Monday.
Other counties, from the southern coalfields to Braxton County north remain under a winter weather advisory also until 9 p.m. Monday.
The advisory also covers the Greenbrier Valley up to Pocahontas County.
Some school districts totally closed for the day on Monday. Other counties, including Kanawha County, announced an early dismissal.
State DOH spokesman Brent Walker said highway crews were able pre-treat roads which helped Monday morning.
“They were out there pre-treating and when it remained dry it was able to have that bond with the roadway to really help,” Walker said.
DOH crews will continue to plow and treat, Walker said.
“We are going to be putting a lot of effort to communicating to travelers that they cannot expect a perfect road but they can expect a passable road,” Walker said.
There were a high number of wrecks Monday in the snowy areas. Walker is urging motorists to slow down.
“We’re going to make this system safe for cautious travel,” he said.