CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A milder Valentine’s weekend is bringing more drivers onto West Virginia roadways, and in Charleston, that warm stretch could quietly shift how people navigate the city.
After weeks of winter driving — slick bridges, cold pavement, cautious braking — the first mild spell in February often creates a sense of relief. Roads look clearer. Traffic feels lighter. Drivers begin accelerating sooner and leaving less space without realizing it.
This weekend, movement increases.
Traffic builds along I-64, I-77, and I-79 as couples head toward dinner plans downtown. Congestion tightens near Capitol Street and around the Charleston Town Center. Parking fills quickly near the West Virginia State Capitol complex and along the Kanawha River. Evening activity increases as residents take advantage of the comfortable air before nighttime plans.
Warmer temperatures also bring more pedestrians into crosswalks that felt quieter during colder weeks.
It’s not snow that creates the highest risk during weekends like this.
It’s comfort.
When pavement appears dry and manageable, reaction times can soften. Drivers assume braking will be smooth. They assume other vehicles are fully attentive. They assume winter caution isn’t as necessary.
Add Valentine’s anticipation — tight schedules, emotional distraction, unfamiliar parking — and the margin for error narrows quickly.
The combination of mild temperatures and increased travel across Charleston roadways Saturday and Sunday evening can quietly elevate crash risk, even without winter weather in the forecast.
If you’re driving anywhere in the city this weekend, especially after dark, stay alert.
Because sometimes the most dangerous winter driving happens when it feels like winter is already behind you.
