CHARLESTON, West Virginia — A strong cold front moving through the Mountain State is bringing dangerous winter weather conditions to Charleston and much of West Virginia, prompting the National Weather Service to issue Winter Weather Advisories and High Wind Warnings through Tuesday.
For Charleston and surrounding lowlands, rain showers early Monday are expected to change over to snow by the afternoon, with light accumulations possible. While snowfall totals in the city are expected to remain limited, hazardous travel conditions are still likely, especially during the Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes.
The most significant impacts will come from strong and damaging winds. West winds of 25 to 40 mph, with gusts reaching 50 to 60 mph, are expected across much of the region. These winds may lead to downed trees, power outages, and unsecured objects being blown around, particularly in higher elevations and exposed areas. Travel may become difficult for high-profile vehicles, especially along north–south routes.
In the central and northern West Virginia mountains, snowfall totals of 3 to 6 inches are expected, with gusty winds causing blowing and drifting snow that could sharply reduce visibility at times. Wind chills are forecast to drop as low as 15 degrees below zero in higher elevations by Tuesday morning.
Forecasters note that winds west of the mountains may gradually diminish later today, but strong gusts will persist in and east of the mountains through tonight before slowly easing Tuesday.
Residents are urged to use caution while traveling, secure loose outdoor items, and prepare for potential power disruptions. For the latest updates, visit weather.gov/rlx or follow NWS Charleston, WV on social media.
