Charleston, West Virginia – Dangerous arctic cold remains locked over central West Virginia tonight into Tuesday, with Extreme Cold Warnings and Cold Weather Advisories continuing across the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Charleston, wind chill values are expected to drop as low as 17 degrees below zero overnight, creating a high risk of frostbite and hypothermia if skin is exposed. The cold is expected to persist through Tuesday morning, even as snow showers taper off.
The Charleston metro area, including Kanawha, Putnam, and surrounding counties, remains under a Cold Weather Advisory, while Extreme Cold Warnings are in effect across northeastern mountain counties and parts of the Ohio River Valley. The warnings cover areas until noon Tuesday, depending on location.
Forecasters report a prolonged stretch of below-freezing temperatures, with overnight lows falling into the teens and single digits, and some higher elevations dropping below zero. This extended cold follows a winter storm and is expected to worsen impacts from lingering power outages, frozen pipes, and slick road conditions.
Wind chills are forecast to remain in the negative single digits to teens below zero through Tuesday morning. Even as winds lighten Tuesday night into Wednesday, officials caution that air temperatures will remain frigid, keeping exposure risks elevated.
The extreme cold also increases the risk of black ice on untreated roads and may lead to frozen rivers, creeks, and streams, raising concerns for potential water disruptions in some communities.
These conditions are especially dangerous for early-morning commuters, outdoor workers, the elderly, and those without reliable heat.
Residents are urged to limit time outdoors, dress in layers, bring pets indoors, protect pipes, and check on vulnerable neighbors until temperatures begin to moderate later in the week.
