WEST VIRGINIA (SWVO) – As speculation about a potential winter storm continues to grow on social media, the National Weather Service (NWS) released information Saturday evening outlining the possibility of snow across portions of West Virginia and the surrounding region next weekend.
The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center shared a graphic Saturday discussing a developing weather pattern that could bring colder temperatures and snowfall to portions of the Appalachian Mountains and Mid-Atlantic states.
According to forecasters, a wave of low pressure is likely to develop across the Ohio Valley late Wednesday before tracking eastward and strengthening as it moves off the Mid-Atlantic coast Friday.
The system could bring widespread precipitation, with rain and snow possible depending on temperatures and elevation.
West Virginia’s higher elevations could have a greater opportunity to experience snowfall, although forecasters emphasize that considerable uncertainty remains regarding the storm’s exact track and potential impacts.
The Weather Prediction Center also released a map showing the probability of receiving at least one inch of snow between Thursday evening and Saturday evening. Portions of West Virginia, particularly along the Appalachian Mountains, are included in areas showing some potential for accumulation.
However, the map does not represent expected snowfall totals, and it remains too early to determine which communities, if any, will receive accumulating snow.
The information comes as discussion of a possible winter storm continues to spread across social media, with some posts drawing attention to the possibility of an early-season snowfall in West Virginia.
Despite the growing attention, the National Weather Service cautions that confidence in the development of a storm is higher than confidence in its specific impacts.
Forecasters say even small changes in the storm’s track could significantly affect snowfall potential, particularly in lower elevations where temperatures may determine whether precipitation falls as rain or snow.
Much colder than normal temperatures are also expected to accompany the system Friday and continue through next weekend.
The Weather Prediction Center stresses that forecast details will change over the coming days as the potential storm approaches.
West Virginia residents are encouraged to monitor updated forecasts from the National Weather Service as meteorologists gain a clearer understanding of the system’s development and potential impacts.
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