Winter weather is on the way, with snow expected across the state from Thursday afternoon to Sunday morning. Snow is predicted to fall on areas from Mercer to Taylor County.
Joe Curtis from the National Weather Service said snow is expected to be the heaviest in the highlands in Pocahontas, Webster, and Randolph counties.
“Up in Snowshoe those areas are going to see the heaviest snow over the next couple of days, but even some of the other locations across the eastern part of the state will also see some accumulating snow,” Curtis said.
Less accumulation is expected in the southern region of the state, or low lying areas, due to warmer ground temps. Curtis said areas with high elevation in those counties will see more snow on the ground.
“Any of the higher ground across those counties — Raleigh, Wyoming, McDowell, Mercer — they could see a little bit of accumulation,” Curtis said. “The best places where the snow will accumulate is probably going to be on the grass and on overpasses, elevated surfaces — especially overnight.”
Bridges can be hazardous during winter weather storms because the surface temperature is significantly cooler than ground temperatures.
Curtis said road workers are preparing for the storm.
“Road crews are going to be out working really hard, making sure that the roads are good to drive on,” Curtis said. “You could still come across some slick roadways, so definitely take it slow, especially tonight and Friday morning.