By Greg Jordan
The Register-Herald
BECKLEY — Unwelcome arctic air expected Sunday evening could plunge the region into single-digit temperatures, but forecasters expect this visitor to leave by early next week and temperatures could rise close to 40 degrees by mid-week.
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service’s office in Charleston issued a winter weather advisory for Raleigh and Fayette Counties starting today at 1 p.m. and lasting until 1 p.m. Sunday. One to 4 inches of snow is possible with a high temperature around 40 degrees and a nighttime low around 12.
Between 4 and 8 inches of snow is expected further north in Kanawha County, said meteorologist Ray Young.
Sunday’s forecast for Raleigh and Fayette Counties include a 30% chance for snow, but only a high of 18 degrees. Sunday night could see temperatures drop to only 6 degrees as a mass of arctic air passes over the region.
Monday’s forecast for the Raleigh County and Fayette County area calls for mostly sunny skies with a high of 29 and a low of 17 degrees. These temperatures are enough to keep snow on roads and in trees. While Monday’s temperatures will still be in the freezing range, daily highs could reach the upper 40s by Wednesday, Young said.
In Greenbrier County, a high of 37 degrees is expected along with a 20% chance for snow and a nighttime low of only 12 degrees. Sunday’s forecast has a high of 17 degrees and a chilly low of 3 degrees Sunday night.
At the National Weather Service’s office in Blacksburg, Va., meteorologists had partly sunny skies with a high of 40 for today’s forecasts. Less than an inch of snow could fall tonight, but the low will be a frigid 17 degrees. Sunday will not be much warmer with a high of only 19 degrees and a low of 5 degrees Sunday night.
Sun and warmer temperatures are expected back by Monday with a high of 30 degrees and an even warmer 38 degrees by Tuesday, 46 degrees Wednesday and 52 degrees by Thursday.
Across the state line in Tazewell County, Va., forecasters in Blacksburg, Va. predicted a high of 42 degrees today followed by a low of 15 degrees tonight with less than an inch of snow. Sunday’s high temperature will be around 21 degrees before dropping Sunday evening to around 5 degrees.
“It won’t last very long,” meteorologist Amanda Sava in Blacksburg, Va., said about the arctic air. “We’ll be closer to seasonal normals by the middle of next week.”
Organizations across the region were prepared to help people cope with this weekend’s single-digit cold.
Capt. Liz Blusiewicz with the Salvation Army Beckley Corps said earlier this week that her organization works with the Beckley Community United Methodist Church to provide a warming station.
People seeking warming locations in West Virginia can call 211 or text their zip code to 898-211.
The Salvation Army Beckley Corps has a soup kitchen at 2871 Robert C Byrd Drive from 10:30 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday and the second and fourth Sunday of the month from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m.
Blusiewicz said the Salvation Army has been distributing coats, hats, gloves, scarves, blankets and socks to people in need, and donations of these winter items are welcome.
In Mercer County, the Bluefield Union Mission is offering winter assistance, too. Executive Director Craig Hammond said that the mission had hats, gloves, scarves and blankets. The mission is also prepared to help individuals needing emergency shelter. People needing refuge from the cold can call the union mission at 304-327-8167 or come to 2203 Bluefield Avenue in Bluefield.
Hammond said donations of winter clothing are always welcome.
In the Princeton area, the Salvation Army in Mercer County was preparing to provide shelter at local motels. The Mercer County Commission has approved up to $10,000 to help fund this effort, according to Sgt. Melissa White. The Salvation Army will invoice the commission when funds are spent on warming shelters.
People needing shelter from the cold can call the Salvation Army from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 304-425-2971 or call the Mercer County 911 Center’s non-emergency number at 304-425-8911, White said.
Like the Salvation Army Beckley Corps, the Mercer County Salvation Army offers winter clothing and accepts donations of coats, hats, glove, scarves, boots and socks.
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