Expect to see the effects of winter storm Harper throughout the rest of the weekend.
Monongalia County Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency put out a winter weather advisory Friday for Wetzel, Marion and Monongalia counties and urged drivers to use caution as roads may become slippery and with low visibility.
Senior Meteorologist from Accuweather.com John Feerick said the storm was expected to hit the area starting as rain on Saturday afternoon. Temperatures were expected to rise into the mid 40s throughout Saturday night.
Today, cold air will hit the area, and the rain will turn to snow, lasting through this morning. Snow showers are expected, with some likely lingering into the afternoon and tonight. Feerick said the area will likely see about 1-3 inches.
“That’s gonna be kind of a slushy accumulation, but I would be concerned about there being quite a few icy spots … because the temperature’s gonna keep on falling,” he said.
This morning, temps are expected to be in the 20s, and Feerick said they will fall into the teens as the day goes on.
The storm has shifted a little farther north than originally expected, allowing for warmer air to hit West Virginia from the South, prompting rain instead of snow.
“The worst of the heavy snow is gonna be from say Northwest Pennsylvania up through Upstate New York and northern New England. They’re gonna have blizzard conditions and there’s gonna be some places that see 2 to 3 feet of snow,” he said.
Feerick said although people generally anticipate the temperature rising during the day, this will not happen today. Anything that is slushy and standing water will freeze solid.
“It’s gonna be brutally cold following this storm. The high Monday is only 15, so anything that does fall, it’s not gonna go anywhere if it’s not removed,” he said.
While frigid temperatures are expected Monday and into the night, Tuesday is expected to be more moderate, Feerick said.
“It’s a real short-lived cold shot, so Tuesday, we’re back up near 40 for a high,” he said.
