Weather Extra | Travel impact of cold and snow

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Wednesday afternoon squalls passed in a rush as winds gusted to 40, even 50 mph, with a short-lived burst of rain. Now the strong winds may be gone, but the wind will have a chilled bluster feel to it as it blows through Saturday. Those winds will chase waves of mainly rain and snow showers through the region on Thursday and Friday. With a deepening chill into Friday, the expectation is that most areas will get the first coating of snow of the season.

Meanwhile, snow will pepper down harder and longer in mountainous West Virginia where several inches of snow will demand snow plows and salt trucks be used. So low mountain towns like Summersville, Richwood, Webster Springs, Elkins and Lewisburg will measure as much as a half a foot of snow.

Locally many hilltops in the Ohio, Big Sandy and Kanawha valleys should measure an inch or so while valley towns realize a grassy coating.

As for travel conditions, Friday morning will see the coldest air (32 locally, 28 in low mountains) and hence the best chance for slickness. Friday afternoon temperatures will be well above freezing, rendering major interstates wet. That’s why I am recommending Friday afternoon travel over Friday morning.

Copyright 2024 WSAZ. All rights reserved.