Charleston, West Virginia – Slick mountain roads and strong wind gusts could disrupt travel across West Virginia beginning Thursday, Feb. 26, as a wetter late-winter pattern increases the risk for freezing rain and gusty conditions through Monday, March 2.
According to NOAA’s 6- to 10-day outlook issued Friday, above-normal precipitation is favored across the Mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians during the Thursday-to-Monday stretch. With temperatures hovering near seasonal averages, even small drops toward 32 degrees could trigger periods of freezing rain, especially overnight and during early morning commutes.
Statewide impacts may focus along I-64 through Charleston and Huntington, where bridges over the Kanawha River tend to freeze first. Along the I-79 corridor from Clarksburg to Morgantown, fluctuating temperatures could allow rain to briefly change to freezing rain before transitioning back. Higher elevations in the Monongahela National Forest and along the Allegheny Front carry the greatest icing risk if colder air lingers.
Wind risk increases late in the period, particularly Sunday into Monday. Gusts between 40 and 50 mph are possible along exposed ridgelines and mountain passes. Strong winds combined with saturated soil could down tree limbs and cause scattered power outages, especially in rural communities.
Residents should secure outdoor items, charge electronic devices and allow extra travel time during peak icing windows. The unsettled pattern continues through March 2, and additional advisories may be issued across the Mountain State.
