Charleston, West Virginia – A dangerous winter storm is set to hammer the East Coast this weekend, combining heavy snow with crippling ice that could make travel impossible across parts of the Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic while cutting power to thousands.
According to the National Weather Service, freezing rain and sleet are now expected to play a larger role across southern West Virginia, southwest Virginia, and adjacent portions of Kentucky and Maryland from Friday night into Sunday. Ice accretion of a quarter inch or more is increasingly likely in the southern coalfields and higher elevations, a shift that prompted Winter Storm Warnings across much of the region.
Snowfall will still be significant north of the ice zone, with widespread totals of 8 to 14 inches from central West Virginia into western Maryland and south-central Pennsylvania. However, areas farther south, including Logan, Beckley, and parts of the New River Valley, may see reduced snow totals as freezing rain dominates for several hours Saturday night into Sunday morning.
State transportation agencies warn that untreated roads could become treacherous quickly, especially along I-64, I-77, U.S. 19, and mountain routes through Pocahontas, Raleigh, and Fayette counties. Ice-laden trees and power lines raise the risk of prolonged outages.
Conditions may briefly improve late Sunday before colder air allows snow to return Sunday night. Additional advisories are possible as confidence increases, and residents are urged to complete preparations and avoid unnecessary travel through the weekend.
