West Virginia Ice Storm—Live Tracker

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Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In January 2023, Matthew traveled to Moscow, Idaho where he reported on the quadruple murders and arrest of Bryan Kohberger. Matthew joined Newsweek in 2019 after graduating from Syracuse University. He also received his master's degree from St. John's University in 2021. You can get in touch with Matthew by emailing m.impelli@newsweek.com. Languages: English.

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A significant ice storm is impacting parts of West Virginia as the National Weather Service (NWS) issued an Ice Storm Warning and a Winter Weather Advisory for several counties. The storm is expected to bring hazardous conditions, including freezing rain, dangerous travel, and potential power outages.

Why It Matters

The National Weather Service has warned that ice accumulation between two-tenths and four-tenths of an inch in parts of West Virginia could lead to severe disruptions. Affected areas include Northwest Pocahontas County, Southeast Pocahontas County, and Southeast Randolph County, where travel conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly.

With temperatures remaining below freezing, roads and bridges will become slick, increasing the risk of accidents and delays. Power outages are also a major concern as ice accumulates on trees and power lines, potentially causing them to snap.

What To Know

The Ice Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisory were issued by NWS Charleston WV on February 5, 2025, with an urgency level of "Expected" and a certainty level of "Likely."

• Ice Storm Warning: Issued for Northwest Pocahontas and Southeast Pocahontas counties, where ice accumulation is expected between 0.2 and 0.4 inches.
• Winter Weather Advisory: Issued for Southeast Randolph County, where total ice accumulation is expected between 0.1 and 0.2 inches.
• Event Duration: The warning is in effect from February 5, 2025, at 12:58 PM EST until February 6, 2025, at 7:00 AM EST.
• Hazards: Freezing rain, icy roads, tree damage, and power outages.

According to ABC News, a broader winter storm system is affecting at least 22 states, stretching from Oklahoma to Vermont. The storm began in the Plains before moving eastward, with the Appalachian Mountains experiencing significant icing. Travel conditions are expected to be particularly hazardous along the Interstate 95 corridor, where a winter weather advisory is in place.

What People Are Saying

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the NWS in Charleston, West Virginia, said, "Freezing rain is possible today into tonight with winter weather headlines across the NE mtns and portions of SE Ohio. The threat for freezing rain ends Thursday morning as we transition to a period of heavy rain that could potentially lead to flooding."

"Dry weather comes to an end tomorrow with a low pressure system that will move across the area. Ice accumulations are expected in the mountains and heavy rainfall is expected elsewhere, and in the mountains after Wednesday; raising flood concerns," the weather office said.

What's Next

The ice storm is expected to persist through early Thursday morning, with freezing rain tapering off as temperatures gradually rise. However, with additional precipitation forecasted for the weekend, West Virginia and surrounding states may not be in the clear just yet. Officials will continue monitoring the situation and provide updates as conditions evolve.

This image, taken from Windy.com on February 5, 2025, shows upcoming weather forecasts for West Virginia. Windy.com