URGENT Winter Weather Alert for Greenbrier County: Brace for Snowstorm and Fierce Winds

Greenbrier County is currently under a Winter Weather Advisory as the National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts significant snowfall and strong winds in the region. This advisory, which began on January 1, 2025, warns residents of the potential impacts of winter weather conditions that could affect travel and daily activities.

Multiple counties in the eastern portion of the Mountain State are under a winter storm warning, winter storm watch, or winter weather advisory through the evening of Saturday. Counties forecasted under those advisories, watches, and warnings include McDowell, Wyoming, Upshur, Barbour, Raleigh, Fayette, Nicholas, Webster, and Pocahontas.

“Our operators are assigned to continue to perform SRIC operations until all roads are addressed — on a 24-hour, seven-day-per-week basis,” said Joe Pack, P.E., WVDOH Chief Engineer of Operations.

Statewide, the WVDOH has a stockpile of more than 231,000 tons of salt and more than 1,000 snowplows to cover all 55 counties. A typical snowplow holds 12 tons of salt, enough to treat about 100 lane-miles of road. That’s about a 50-mile stretch of two-lane road or about 25 miles of four-lane.

District 8, which includes the counties of Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, and Tucker, has 9,410 tons of salt, 21 tandem trucks, 43 single-axle trucks, and additional equipment ready for SRIC operations this winter. The Elkins area could see between six and 12 inches of snow through 7 p.m. Saturday.

District 7, which includes Barbour, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, and Webster counties, has 11,000 tons of salts, two dozen tandem trucks, and 39 single-axle trucks ready for SRIC. That area is forecasted to see several inches of snow.

In Richwood, Nicholas County, up to a foot of snow is forecasted from Thursday into Saturday. Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, and Summers, also in District 9, have 20,860 tons of salt available this SRIC season.

“Our crews are ready to roll and meet the demand of this winter storm,” said Jim Moore, P.E., District 9 Engineer. “We conducted dry runs in our area in October.”

District 10, which is McDowell, Mercer, Raleigh, and Wyoming counties, has 105 snow plows ready to attack the roadways.

All roads maintained by the WVDOH and West Virginia Parkways Authority are assigned a priority for snow removal. Priority 1 routes include interstate, expressway, national highway system, and all other United States and West Virginia routes.

Some Priority 1 routes also include high-traffic county routes. Priority 2 routes are all other school bus routes that are not considered Priority 1. Priority 3 routes are the remaining routes, not including park and forest routes. Priority 4 routes are park and forest routes.

Once Priority 1 routes are deemed in accessible condition, WVDOH operators move those secondary routes to Priority 2 and 3. However, as snow returns, WVDOH operators return to the Priority 1 route.

Safety Precautions

Given the forecasted weather conditions, it is crucial for residents in Greenbrier County to take the necessary precautions:

• Travel Wisely: If travel is unavoidable, ensure your vehicle is equipped with emergency supplies, including blankets, food, water, and a flashlight.
• Stay Informed: Monitor local news sources and the NWS for updates on weather advisories and road conditions.
• Prepare Your Home: Ensure that your home heating systems are functioning properly and that you have adequate supplies in case of power outages.
• Avoid Unnecessary Travel: If possible, stay indoors during severe weather events to reduce the risk of accidents or injuries.