Charleston, West Virginia – Dangerous winter cold is tightening its grip across West Virginia and southeast Ohio, with subzero wind chills expected Sunday morning and again Sunday night into early Monday. This prolonged cold snap poses a serious risk to anyone outdoors without proper protection.
The harshest conditions arrive before sunrise Sunday, when wind chills are expected to drop between 7 below and 13 below across much of central, southern, and northern West Virginia. Additional bursts of bitter cold will persist through Sunday night, keeping wind chills dangerously low into Monday morning. Shorter-duration advisories are also in effect for parts of southeast Ohio, including Jackson, Vinton, and Perry counties, where wind chills will dip below zero early Sunday.
According to the National Weather Service office in Charleston, a Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect from early Sunday through 10 a.m. Monday for large portions of West Virginia, including Raleigh, Fayette, Nicholas, Webster, Pocahontas, Randolph, Wyoming, McDowell, and Upshur counties, along with parts of southwest Virginia. Communities impacted include Beckley, Fayetteville, Summersville, Buckhannon, Elkins, Marlinton, Welch, Oak Hill, and surrounding mountain towns.
Travelers on I-64, I-77, U.S. 19, and U.S. 60 should be prepared for extreme cold during overnight and early morning hours, especially if stranded. According to emergency management officials, residents should avoid prolonged outdoor exposure, dress in layers, and fully cover exposed skin with hats, gloves, and face coverings. Pets should be kept indoors, and livestock should have wind shelter and unfrozen water.
Cold temperatures will also increase strain on heating systems. Residents are urged to use space heaters safely, keep them away from flammable materials, and check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors. Even brief exposure to these wind chills can result in frostbite or hypothermia.
Conditions gradually improve late Monday morning, but winter cold remains firmly in place through midweek.
