Charleston, West Virginia – West Virginia residents could face renewed winter travel challenges as a late-January pattern increases the likelihood of accumulating snow across much of the Mountain State.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, West Virginia is included in a slight risk for heavy snow from Saturday through the following Friday, signaling a higher chance for one or more impactful winter systems during that timeframe. The risk is most pronounced in higher elevations, where colder air is more likely to remain locked in.
In northern West Virginia, including Morgantown and surrounding Monongalia County, below-normal temperatures favor snow as the dominant precipitation type. That could lead to slick conditions along Interstate 79, U.S. Route 19, and other mountain roadways during heavier snowfall.
Central and southern areas, including Charleston and Beckley, may see snow arrive in multiple rounds rather than a single storm. Elevation changes across the region could lead to sharp differences in accumulation over short distances, increasing travel hazards on winding roads and secondary highways.
The West Virginia Division of Highways urges residents to monitor road conditions closely, limit non-essential travel during snow, and keep vehicles stocked with winter safety supplies. With colder air expected to persist, any snow that falls may linger between systems.
More detailed outlooks and potential winter weather advisories are expected as the late-January window approaches, with clearer timing and impacts emerging by early next week.
