Jan. 3—bluefield — West Virginia’s current governor issued a state of preparedness Thursday evening for all 55 counties ahead of possible winter storm conditions forecast by the National Weather Service.
Gov. Jim Justice declared a State of Preparedness for the entire state due to the weather predicted for the coming days.
The National Weather Service predicted a cold front will bring a round of accumulating snow starting Friday with snow showers lingering into Saturday.
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The State of Preparedness allows the West Virginia Emergency Management Division to position personnel and resources for quick responses to any emergencies that may develop, according to the governor’s proclamation. Coordinating agencies have been placed on standby to report to the State Emergency Operations Center if needed.
Justice and the emergency management division asked all the state’s citizens to watch ongoing weather conditions through local media reports and follow any instructions issued by emergency officials.
Forecasters will be looking at several winter systems until mid-January, said meteorologist Phil Manuel with the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Va.
The first weather system is likely to arrive Friday morning, he said. Precipitation is expected to be moderate snow tapering to flurries Friday evening.
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This will be followed by a second winter system arriving late Sunday afternoon and continuing until Sunday night.
“That system will potentially be a much more impactful storm to the region,” Manuel said.
The second system has generated a winter storm warning north of Interstate 64, but the results in the Mercer County area will be more of a wintry mix.
“It won’t be a pure snow event,” he said. “It could change over to sleet and freezing rain Sunday night into Monday morning. There will be most likely an impact on the Monday morning commute.”
Manuel also said the first winter system will be followed by wind Friday night into Saturday and create wind chills close to zero degrees both days.
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“The cold will not be going away,” he said. “Much of next week will be below-normal temperatures.”
In the Raleigh County area, there is a 90% chance of snow today with a high of 34 degrees and a low of 14 tonight. There is a 60% chance of a wintry mix Sunday with a high of 34 degrees and a 100% chance of a wintry mix Sunday night with an 80% chance of snow and rain Monday.
South in Mercer County, there is a 60% chance of snow Friday with a high of 33 degrees and a 40% chance of snow later with a low of 14. Sunday will have a 70% chance of snow with a 100% chance of a wintry mix that night with a low of 26 degrees. Monday will see a 70% chance of rain and snow.
Contact Greg Jordan at
Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
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