Beckley, West Virginia – Up to a quarter-inch of ice could snap tree limbs and cut power across parts of southern West Virginia before 10 a.m. Tuesday, making travel nearly impossible at times. Roads across Raleigh, Fayette, Nicholas, Webster and Pocahontas counties are turning slick as freezing rain builds over a fresh layer of snow.
According to the National Weather Service in Charleston, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. Tuesday. Forecasters expect up to 2 additional inches of snow along with ice accretion approaching 0.25 inches, especially in higher elevations around Marlinton and Richwood. That amount of ice can weigh down power lines and create scattered outages.
Bridges and mountain routes, including stretches of U.S. 19 and U.S. 219, are expected to ice over first. The advisory warns the Monday evening commute and the Tuesday morning drive could face significant disruptions. Emergency managers urge residents to avoid non-essential travel and prepare for possible power loss by charging devices and securing backup heat sources.
Conditions should gradually improve late Tuesday morning as temperatures rise, but additional advisories could follow if icing lingers in the higher terrain.
