Charleston, WV – A widespread winter mix arriving late tonight will slick roads across central and southern West Virginia, creating hazardous travel for the Tuesday morning commute from the Ohio River to the higher ridges east of the Kanawha Valley.
According to the National Weather Service Charleston, a Winter Weather Advisory begins at 11 p.m. for Kanawha, Cabell, Putnam, Jackson, Lincoln, Wayne, Mason, and counties across Southeast Ohio and Northeast Kentucky. Most lowland areas, including Charleston, Huntington, and Point Pleasant, will see a light glaze to one-tenth inch of ice with up to one inch of snow. Southeast Ohio communities such as Athens, Marietta, and Gallipolis could collect 1 to 3 inches of snow with a thin coat of ice.
According to meteorologists, conditions will worsen quickly after midnight as freezing rain mixes with bursts of snow. Elevated surfaces will glaze first, followed by icy intersections and bridges. Mountain areas from Summersville to Webster Springs and the high ridges near Elkins may pick up 1 to 3 inches of snow with icing up to two-tenths of an inch, raising the risk of tree limb stress and isolated power flickers.
According to West Virginia emergency officials, commuters should allow extra time on I-64, I-77, and US-119. Use smooth steering inputs, avoid hard braking, and keep phones charged. Side streets in Charleston, Saint Albans, Gassaway, and Clay may remain slick through late morning as temperatures rise slowly.
Residents should consider delaying nonessential travel until midday and use caution on porches, driveways, and untreated sidewalks, which may ice over before dawn.
