Morgantown should see the typical 25-30 inches this year
It is anybody’s best guess what the first snowy stretch of weather will bring to the Morgantown area with the 1-3 inches predicted.
When you woke up today — the start of the meteorological winter, which also includes January and February — you likely saw snow. The snow is expected to continue through this evening and into Wednesday.
“It will be a couple, or a few inches,” Tom Kines, a meteorologist with AccuWeather in State College, Pa., said. “East, into the mountains, could see a foot of snow.”
Typically, the first significant snow hits north-central West Virginia after Nov. 15, said Kines, adding the timing of today’s accumulation is normal. A winter weather advisory from the National Weather Service will remain in effect until Wednesday with as much as 3-5 inches of total accumulation possible.
The snow is expected to end Wednesday evening. Temperatures will climb back into the 40s toward the end of the week, Kines said.
Motorists will need to be especially careful because the snow will mix with rain, creating potentially icy road conditions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends motorists follow these steps when driving in snow or ice conditions:
Keep your windows clear. Clean snow, ice or dirt off windows, forward and backup sensors, and lights, before driving.
Drive slowly. It’s harder to control or stop a vehicle on a slick, or snow-covered road. While driving, increase following distance from the vehicle in front of you so you have plenty of time to stop.
Avoid any sudden movements with the steering wheel when stopping. And avoid locking of brakes because it will cause a loss of steering and control.
Kines said the Morgantown area should expect 25 to 30 inches of snow this winter, which is considered normal. Terra Alta, in neighboring Preston County, is the state’s snowiest town, averaging 175 inches — 14.5 feet — each year, according to The Weather Channel.
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