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fter a relatively mild end to last week, the Kanawha Valley was once again impacted by ice, snow and blustery temperatures over the weekend.
Icy roads made local traveling hazardous. Metro 911 received dozens of accident reports on Saturday and Sunday, many caused by inclement conditions.
On Saturday, the Sissonville Fire Department responded to a crash on White Oak Drive that closed the road for some time.
“The roadway is a solid sheet of ice,” officials said that morning.
A little while later, volunteers with the department were called to a two-vehicle accident on Grapevine Road. Photos of the accident provided by firefighters showed a car toppled upside down on the side of the road. Officials said no one was found in or around the vehicles. The scene was later cleared.
On Sunday, residents throughout the Kanawha Valley awoke to snow-covered streets. Crews were out plowing, scraping and salting in many local municipalities throughout the day.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Charleston issued a winter storm warning beginning at 1 a.m. Sunday. It was expected to last through 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 20. Officials said the region could see three to six inches of accumulating snow during that time.
Local emergency officials advised motorists to be cautious while traveling, warning of the potential for worsening conditions throughout the day Sunday into Monday.
“Freezing temperatures are expected and can cause slick roadways, especially on side roads and bridges,” volunteers with the Cedar Grove Fire Department wrote in a social media post.
Monday's outlook
Meteorologists predict a frigid start to the week. Temperatures are not expected to surpass a blustery 16 degrees Fahrenheit in Charleston and surrounding areas for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
On Sunday, the NWS issued a cold weather advisory effective 1 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 20. Officials said wind chills of 15 below zero are expected locally.
“The cold wind chills… could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken,” officials wrote in their advisory.
Hypothermia is a dangerous condition that can happen when a person is exposed to extremely cold temperatures. Prolonged exposure can cause abnormally low body temperature, leading to medical emergencies. It can be especially dangerous for vulnerable populations like the elderly, the homeless, outdoor workers and young children.
To avoid hypothermia, the CDC offers the following tips:
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Dress in layers of warm, dry clothing, including a hat, scarf, and gloves;
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Stay dry by changing out of wet clothes immediately; and
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Limit time outdoors in cold weather.
A daytime warming center will be opened at the Kanawha Valley Collective's Centralized Assesment Office at 1015 Smith St. in Charleston through Wednesday, Jan. 22. Overnight stations will be available in Charleston, St. Albans and other communities around the county as well.
Extremely cold temperatures in the teens and single digits are expected to remain in the area through Wednesday, before warming slightly by week’s end.
