Charleston, WV — Commuters along the I-79 corridor and across the northern mountains of West Virginia face a dangerous Friday deadline as heavy snow and powerful winds converge, creating treacherous travel from late morning through early Saturday.
The National Weather Service in Charleston has kept a Winter Storm Warning in effect from 10 a.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Saturday, calling for 4 to 8 inches of snow with locally higher totals along windward mountain slopes. Northwest wind gusts are expected to reach 45 to 55 mph in the highest elevations, producing blowing snow and near-whiteout conditions at times.
Impacts will stretch from Upshur and Barbour counties through Nicholas, Webster, Randolph, and Pocahontas counties, including Beckley, Buckhannon, Elkins, Snowshoe, Summersville, and Richwood. Mountain routes serving ski areas, high ridges, and exposed passes are expected to deteriorate rapidly Friday afternoon, with snow-covered roads and sharply reduced visibility.
Officials warn that the Friday evening commute will be particularly hazardous as snowfall intensifies and winds peak. Gusty conditions could snap tree limbs and cause sporadic power disruptions, while drifting snow may quickly re-cover plowed roads, especially on secondary and rural routes.
Conditions slowly improve Saturday morning as snow tapers off, but lingering gusts and cold temperatures will keep roads slick and hazardous well after snowfall ends. Travelers are urged to carry emergency supplies and monitor road conditions closely before attempting mountain travel.
