Snowshoe, W.Va. — Drivers along U.S. 219 through the Snowshoe Mountain corridor faced escalating danger Friday as powerful northwest winds surged across high terrain from the Randolph County line south toward Marlinton, with gusts already building ahead of a long-duration High Wind Warning that begins at 10 p.m. Winds increase rapidly overnight, with gusts peaking near 55 mph by early Saturday, creating severe crosswinds and blowing snow on exposed ridges.
The National Weather Service in Charleston said sustained northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph will batter northwest Pocahontas and southeast Randolph counties through 10 p.m. Saturday, while an Extreme Cold Warning takes over at 1 a.m. Saturday and runs through 10 a.m. Sunday. Wind chills plunge as low as 30 below zero in the highest elevations, turning brief exposure into a medical emergency.
West Virginia Division of Highways officials warned that travel for high-profile vehicles becomes increasingly difficult along U.S. 219, Route 66, and connecting mountain roads as gusts push vehicles across lanes and sharply reduce driver control. Visibility drops quickly in open stretches, and braking distances lengthen as cold air hardens road surfaces and freezes moisture on bridges.
Impacts concentrate in Snowshoe, Harman, Slatyfork, Hillsboro, and Marlinton, with additional trouble spots near the Route 66 junction, the Route 219 summit north of Snowshoe, and exposed stretches toward Valley Head. In southeast Webster County, including Upper Glade and surrounding ridges, wind chills sink toward 25 below, creating similar exposure risks despite slightly lower wind speeds.
Officials urged motorists to delay unnecessary travel, secure vehicles, and prepare for rapidly changing conditions. The wind threat tapers late Saturday night, but the extreme cold holds through Sunday morning before temperatures slowly moderate.
