WINTER STORM WATCH
Warning Issue Date: 352 PM EST WED DEC 16 2009
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE
SATURDAY NIGHT...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE
SATURDAY NIGHT.
A MAJOR WELL ORGANIZED WINTER STORM WILL IMPACT MUCH OF WEST
VIRGINIA ALONG WITH SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY
NIGHT. THE LOW CENTER WILL TRACK FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO NORTHEAST
TO THE SOUTHEAST COAST BY FRIDAY EVENING....AND THEN RIGHT ON UP
THE EAST COAST THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT.
WITH THE LOW ORIGINATING IN THE GULF...PRECIPITATION WILL ADVANCE
NORTHWARD INTO THE WATCH AREA LATE FRIDAY AND QUICKLY OVERSPREAD
THE WATCH AREA FRIDAY EVENING. IT WILL START OFF AS RAIN OR A RAIN
AND SNOW MIX LATE FRIDAY...BUT COOLING IN ADVANCE OF THE STORM
WILL CAUSE A QUICK CHANGEOVER TO ALL SNOW FRIDAY NIGHT.
THE PRECIPITATION WILL REMAIN ALL SNOW AS IT CONTINUES INTO
SATURDAY...BEFORE STARTING TO TAPER OFF FROM SOUTHWEST TO
NORTHEAST. THE INITIAL BAND OF SNOW FRIDAY THAT ARRIVES FRIDAY
EVENING CAN BRING ABOUT A FEW INCHES ACCUMULATION QUICKLY FRIDAY
NIGHT. ALTOGETHER...THE HEAVIEST ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO
OCCUR FROM FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY...EVEN AS THE SNOW VARIES IN
INTENSITY. SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATION IS LIKELY BY DAWN
SATURDAY.
TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATION POTENTIAL RANGES FROM A HALF A FOOT
FOR THE WEST VIRGINIA LOWLANDS AND A FOOT OR EVEN BETTER FOR THE
MOUNTAINS WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE LATE SATURDAY NIGHT. LIGHTER
SNOW WILL LINGER INTO SUNDAY.
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. RAIN OR WET SNOW AT
THE START LATE FRIDAY EVENING MAY RESULT IN A THIN LAYER OF ICE
UNDER THE SNOW BY SATURDAY MORNING.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.
$$
TRM
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