Hazelton, West Virginia – Mountain roads across eastern West Virginia are turning slick this evening as snow and freezing rain continue to fall, with ice buildup expected to peak before 4 a.m. Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for Eastern Preston and Eastern Tucker counties until 4 a.m. Tuesday. Additional snow totals up to 2 inches are possible, along with ice accumulations near one tenth of an inch.
That amount of ice can coat bridges and untreated secondary roads, especially along U.S. Route 219, Route 50 near Aurora, and higher elevations around Canaan Valley and Thomas. Terra Alta, Rowlesburg and Davis could see reduced visibility during heavier bursts of mixed precipitation, slowing the Monday evening commute and creating slick conditions overnight.
Emergency officials urge drivers to reduce speed, leave extra stopping distance and avoid unnecessary travel in higher terrain. Power lines and tree branches may also pick up light ice, increasing the chance of isolated outages.
The advisory expires at 4 a.m., but crews will continue monitoring conditions through the Tuesday morning drive as temperatures hover near freezing.
