GHENT, WV (WVNS) -- *Updated Friday, January 5th, 2024* A winter storm is shaping up to bring a messy weekend disrupting travel plans with rain, ice, and measurable snow for some. Your StormTracker 59 Team broke down the weekend forecast, what to watch for, and the impacts expected.

Current Weather Alerts:

McDowell, Wyoming, Northwest Raleigh, Giles, Tazewell, Bland & Northwest Fayette
Winter Weather Advisory - 1 AM to 1 PM Saturday. 
Southeast Nicholas & Pocahontas
Winter Weather Advisory - 7 AM Saturday to 1 AM Sunday. 
Southeast Raleigh & Southeast Fayette
Winter Weather Advisory - 1 AM Saturday to 1 AM Sunday. 
Mercer, Summers, Monroe, & Greenbrier
Winter Weather Advisory - 4 AM Saturday to 1 AM Sunday.

Forecast Overview

A complex and large system is expected to move toward the region Friday night and head in early Saturday morning before dawn. This multi-level impact storm will make for a messy weekend. With such a complex forecast, it's best to think of our weekend in slices, like a pizza. Each slice will feature different aspects, like rain and freezing rain turning to snow and back again depending on location, time of day, and elevation. Below, we've broken down your weekend forecast into sections of time with slide shows and what to expect during each time period:

Friday Night (8pm - 2am)

Friday night, clouds will increase as our storm gets closer to our region. By midnight, we'll see freezing rain push in from the southwest. Icy roads late into the night can be expected through Tazewell, McDowell, and Wyoming counties. Road temperatures at this point are just at the freezing mark. Elevated roads, power lines, and trees will begin to glaze over with ice while surface roads will likely be wet. As rain showers clash with colder air in the mountains, east of I-77, sleet & wet snow will begin to stick late into the night. Overnight temps will continue to cool, meaning even roads through our southwestern counties will begin to ice over.

IMPACTS: Rain to Freezing Rain making untreated roads slick. Use caution

Saturday Morning (2am - 8am)

As the center of the low pressure system moves into the region, the leading edge of precipitation hits colder air in the mountains for periods of wet heavy snow showers. Along I-77, freezing rain and sleet will make travel difficult for untreated roads. For those farther south and west through Tazewell, McDowell, and Tazewell counties, the air warms up enough with southwest winds for a straight rain event. Disruptions to daily life and travel will be evident in the mountains more so than our lower elevation counties.

IMPACTS: Driving conditions deteriorate quickly with heavy snow in the mountains, sheets of ice along I-77, and wet roads with standing water south and west of Beckley.

Saturday (8am-4pm)

With the center of the low working through the Ohio River Valley, strong southeast winds ramp up with wind gusts 25-30mph at times, higher on the ridgelines. With ice covered trees and power lines, localized power outages are likely. Large vehicles like SUVs and semis will find driving east to west roads difficult. As freezing rain continues to fall through the I-77 corridor and heavy snow and ice through the mountains along I-64, driving conditions continue to worsen. This will be the height of the storm with conditions changing quickly. Sleet to snow to rain transitions will happen often and quickly.

IMPACTS: Rapidly changing conditions from one county to the next / strong winds leading to power outages / wind-driven heavy snow, sleet, ice, and rain / long duration event

Saturday Night (4pm- 4am)

By Saturday night, the main event of the storm is pushing out towards our north and east. Winds subside, some 10-15mph gusts at times out of the west. This change keeps temps from falling too far. South and west of Beckley, temps remain above freezing for a soggy overnight. Along the I-77 corridor ground temps hover around the freezing mark for patchy icy spots on roads overnight. For higher elevations through Fayette, Nicholas, Greenbrier, and Pocahontas counties, refreezing and snow showers continue. As our storm continues to push off towards New England, winds will shift out of the northwest by pre-dawn Sunday.

IMPACTS: Wet roads southwest / refreezing along and east of I-77 / scattered snow showers and sleet continue

Sunday Morning (4am - 11am)

Winds change out of the west-northwest becoming more northwest by the late morning 25-30 mph at times. These winds will carry wraparound moisture from our low moving through Canada while picking up moisture from the Great Lakes. As this hits our western facing mountains, upslope snow and scattered snow showers for the lowlands are expected. While most of us will have all the snow we're going to get by Sunday morning, the exception here is the higher elevations through Nicholas, Greenbrier, and Pocahontas County, who will continue to see snow accumulations. By noon, counties across the region will have snow totals similar to our snowfall forecast map. With strong northwest winds, wind chill values will plummet for the mountains into the teens while those off the ridgelines will be in the twenties.

IMPACTS: Snow squalls can quickly cover roadways with snow / Accumulating snows in the mountains continue / Frostbite threat is real and can occur in under 30 minutes of exposure

Sunday Afternoon (11am - 6pm)

Strong winds will continue to blow snow over open roads and wind chills will be stuck in the teens for the mountains. Snow showers fade for most with the exception being the higher elevations towards the northwestern West Virginia mountains like Pocahontas, Webster, and Randolph counties. As we being to dial back snows, roads will be slick in spots with road crews working hard to clear them. While there won't be much sunshine, solar radiation will help keep roads clear through the daylight hours for places south of I-64 through Greenbrier County.

Sunday Night to Monday Morning (6pm - 6am)

With our storm moving out, high pressure from the south and west will edge its way into our region bringing a more stable air mass with it. Snow showers come to an end for our mountain counties and clouds slow fade away. Roads will refreeze in the overnight hours as temps drop into the 20s for all. Winds begin to subside and change out of the southwest. This change will set us up for a thawing day Monday afternoon with highs expected to reach into the 40s.

By Friday, very little changes are expected to this forecast as we get closer to our weekend. Pinpointing where the colder air sets up will only change the forecast slightly based on where that rain / ice / snow line sets up. However, in past storms that have set up like this, we've seen messy conditions that change rapidly. This will be less about how many inches of snow we get but the impacts from one county to the next. Some will see only rain and wonder why we made such a fuss while others will see an ice glaze on roads that make driving during certain times Saturday near impossible. Those in the mountains will look at the 4-6 inches of snow Sunday morning making minor changes to their plans heading into the new week.

While our job is to provide as much information as possible, conditions can sometimes change faster than we can type. The bottom line all of us should take away from this is to expect minor disruptions to your daily life with rapidly changing road conditions. Take it easy on roads and if possible, hold off travel for better conditions. We won't be snowed in for days at a time but could find roads hard to drive on for 12-16 hours during Saturday, especially in the mountains.

We'll of course keep our regular daily forecast updated with changing conditions and post current and finer detailed forecast on our social media pages. This includes future advisories, winter storm watches & warning from the National Weather Service as they come in.

The CuddleCot is known around the world for assisting families when they suffer the loss of a baby. The system cools the baby's body and keeps skin hydrated allowing grieving parents time to spend with their child.

When the couple learned that PCH didn't have a CuddleCot, they decided to donate one to the Women's Center as a tribute to their son.

"I think it is very beneficial, because unfortunately the sad reality is that we do have babies that pass. Everyone thinks labor and delivery is all sunshine and rainbows and every baby lives. But unfortunately, some don't make it. So, this gives parents time to come to term with what happened and still get that bonding time," said Jackie Mency, the Director of the PCH Women's Center.

This fall, the parents presented a CuddleCot to the Women's Center after it made its way from the United Kingdom to West Virginia. A special plaque inscribed with the name of Gettys' and Norman's child was included with the donation.

At approximately 9 a.m. on Friday, January 5, 2024, Raleigh County Sheriff's Office dispatched officers out for a reported structure fire. The structure fire was reported on the 300 block of Market Road in Beckley.

Multiple emergency services responded and cleared the scene including: Beckley Police Department, Bradley Volunteer Fire Department, Beaver Volunteer Fire Department, Coal City Volunteer Fire Department, Mabscott Volunteer Fire Department, Mt. Hope Volunteer Fire Department, Pax Volunteer Fire Department, and Jancare EMS.

No injuries were reported, and the scene was cleared by emergency services dispatched. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES IN WEST VIRGINIA

McDowell, Wyoming, Northwest Raleigh, Northwest Fayette Southeast Nicholas & Pocahontas
Winter Weather Advisory - 7 AM Saturday to 1 AM Sunday. 
Southeast Raleigh & Southeast Fayette 
Winter Weather Advisory - 1 AM Saturday to 1 AM Sunday. 
Mercer, Summers, Monroe, & Greenbrier

Winter Weather Advisory - 4 AM Saturday to 1 AM Sunday.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES IN VIRGINIA

Giles, Tazewell, and Bland County
Winter Weather Advisory  - 1 AM Saturday to 1 AM Sunday

Tonight clouds increase ahead of our messy weekend storm. We'll be dry through midnight with temperatures dropping back into the mid 30s. We'll settle with overnight lows in the 20s as snow showers begin to push in around 1 AM.  Winter Weather Advisories for many of our counties take effect at 1 AM for freezing rain, sleet, and snow making travel difficult for some.  Untreated roads will be troublesome for the overnight hours.  

Saturday a winter mess is heading our way with periods of snow in the morning then rain and ice for the afternoon. This change over in the afternoon with highs in the upper 30s will cut snow totals down for many. As the sun sets, however, rain changes to snow for just about the entire region. Mountains are still the favorite for snow that needs to be shoveled where the lowlands pick up a slushy mix of a couple inches into the overnight. Travel will be slick and slow regardless of what we see so plan accordingly. Snow fall totals won't amount to much but ice totals up to 0.10 inches can cause impassible roads, heavy trees that topple in 25-40mph wind gusts, and power loss issues.  Plan accordingly. 

Sunday, sct. snow showers continue to push through but again, the afternoon hours for the lowlands will be warm enough for a rain/snow mix. Precipitation chances fade as we get closer to sunset with the exception being the northwest mountains. Flurries can be expected, but for the most part, the system as a whole is winding down by Sunday night. Temps hover in the mid and upper 30s before falling back into the 20s overnight. Greenbrier and Pocahontas county will see about an inch or two of snow throughout the day with some melting in the daylight hours. 

Monday we look to dry out but northwest winds continue to bring a chance of a snow flake or two for Pocahontas County and the northeastern mountains. This too will start to wind down as we briefly catch a break between systems. Sun and clouds can be expected much of the day as temps struggle to the low 40s. Wind chills will certainly make the day feel much cooler.

Tuesday we are watching yet another system that brings the potential for a messy day. While we're still too far out to break down the minor details, a mostly rain event will feature some hours of snow showers, especially in the mountains after the sun sets. Icy roads will also be an issue late into the night. Highs for the day are mild for most in the mid and upper 40s which is something to keep in mind when snow totals are mentioned. That is a bit too warm for much to stick even when the rain changes over to snow in the late night hours.

Wednesday northwest winds take over with gusty conditions of 20-25mph winds pulling in colder air and upslope snow for our mountain counties. Most in the lowlands will see scattered snow showers that don't amount to much in accumulations. Some isolated heavier bursts of snow may coat the ground early in the day.  Highs struggle into the upper 30s with wind chill values in the upper 20s and low 30s all day.

Thursday we catch another small break in a very active pattern.  Some sunshine through partly cloudy skies and winds more westerly will help us push in to the low to mid 40s for the afternoon.  

In your extended forecast, we're primed to continue to see a very active pattern as the El Nino effect really shows itself for January.  Southern moisture will be carried northeastward towards our region. Temperatures will bounce from the 30 into the 40s and back again as each system moves by.  There is no real sign of a major snow event but if the right storm takes the right track, we could change our thinking as the month of January drones on.  Still, expect some messy commuting days as rain, ice, and snow come in with each passing system. 

TONIGHT
Increasing Clouds, dry until midnight then snow showers. Highs in the 40s.
SATURDAY
Rain, Sleet, and Snow showers. Messy Day. Windy! Highs in the 30s.
SUNDAY
Snow and rain showers, some heavy at times, still windy. Highs in the 30s.
MONDAY
Thinning clouds, some sunshine. Highs in the 40s.
TUESDAY
Rain & Snow. Highs in the 40s.
WEDNESDAY
Rain & Snow showers continue. Highs in the 40s
THURSDAY
Clearing, chilly. Highs in the low to mid 40s.
FRIDAY
Clouds increasing, showers late. Highs in the mid 40s.
SATURDAY
Rain, ice and snow showers. Breezy. Highs in the low 40s
SUNDAY
Mtn. Mixing early, slow clearing. Highs in the low 40s.
MONDAY
Sunshine returns. Pattern evens out a little. Highs in the upper 30s. 

Held from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Bank of Glen Jean at 23 County Route 25/9 directly across the road from Park Headquarters in the Glen Jean area of Fayette County, the meeting will discuss the project to remove excess structures. It will address deferred maintenance needs, as well as allowing community members to give comments during the event on provided cards.

Information about the project will be displayed at the meeting, and park staff will be available to answer questions and listen to comments from the public. At this time the project is in the early proposal stage, and suggestions and comments are appreciated as the planning process moves forward.

A chance to give comments and learn more can be found on the NPS planning website until January 15, 2024 for anyone who cannot go to the public meeting.

The fire occurred in the White Sulphur Springs area of Greenbrier County early on January 4, 2024. Everyone made it safely out of the house, including the family's pet tortoise, Tank.

The White Sulphur Springs EMS thanks all of the agencies who responded to the fire, which included the WSSFD, the WSSPD, Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department, Greenbrier County Homeland Security, Lewisburg FD, Ronceverte VFD, Dunlap VFD, Fairlea VFD, Anthony Creek VFD, and the Frankford VFD.

The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) has more than 1,000 trucks with plows across the state that can also spread salt. In order for the trucks to be on the roads 24 hours a day, the trucks have drivers for both a 12-hour day shift, and a 12-hour night shift.

As always, we are prepared for any snowfall event. We attack each storm with the same level of importance of having every available truck on the road.

Joe Pack | P.E. WVDOH Chief Engineer of District Operations

To keep the roadways as clear and safe as possible, snowplow drivers with the WVDOH will be on the roads, and will be clearing the roads as long as snow is falling. According to Pack, for wintry mix weather events the WVDOH uses salt mixed with a higher amount of stone.

As the abrasives are applied at a higher rate on the roadway, it does not allow the ice sheet to form a solid. It forms around that small rock and as the traffic drives over it, it cracks. The cracking allows the salt solution to penetrate the ice, melting it from underneath.

Joe Pack | P.E. WVDOH Chief Engineer of District Operations

The WVDOH has a supply of over 231,000 tons of salt across the state, and typically, a snowplow can hold 12 tons of salt. This amount of salt can treat approximately 100 lane miles of road, which equals around 25 miles of four-lane or 50 miles of two-lane roads.

During winter weather events, drivers are reminded to be careful, slow down around snowplows, not to pass the truck, and to give the snowplow drivers space on the roads.

LaPierre’s resignation, first reported by Fox News, comes as the organization defends itself in a New York civil suit alleging he and other executives spent millions of the group’s funds on luxury vacations and other perks.

“With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA,” LaPierre said in a statement. “I’ve been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever.”

The 74-year-old cited health concerns for his resignation, which will take effect Jan. 31. 

LaPierre has helmed the NRA for more than three decades, leading it through triumph as it gained political clout, controversy after innumerable mass shootings and downfall as the group has run into financial trouble.

"I am proud of the NRA’s advocacy in New York and, through it all, determination to defend the Second Amendment. I can assure you the NRA’s mission, programming, and fight for freedom have never been more secure," he said.

More Business news from The Hill

• Treasury: Nearly 9,000 auto dealers have registered for electric vehicle tax credit
• Maersk says Red Sea diversion will cause major disruptions
• Surprise jobs data gives boost to Biden
• Yellen says US economy is in ‘soft landing’

He first joined the group as an employee in 1977, about the time the group began its transformation from a firearms safety advocacy group into a conservative political powerhouse. 

Under LaPierre, the organization was one of the most influential lobbying groups in Washington, able to make-or-break Republican candidates with its endorsements. The group also spent hundreds of million on legal services, challenging gun control measures nationwide.

Major legal victories include last year’s Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which threw out New York state handgun regulation and started a wave of legal challenges to other gun control measures in dozens of states. The NRA supported the suit.

LaPierre’s exit adds to legal and financial difficulties for the organization.

The group’s fundraising and membership have fallen steeply in recent years, losing about a half-million members from 2021-22, according to gun violence news nonprofit The Trace.

The organization raised $213 million in 2022, about half of its 2016 total, according to the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

The New York suit, brought by state Attorney General Letitia James (D), alleges LaPierre and other senior leaders diverted millions of dollars away from the group’s charitable mission and towards luxury personal benefits.

Following an 18-month investigation, James said the NRA fostered “a culture of self-dealing, mismanagement and negligent oversight,” costing the group $64 million over three years.

The NRA and LaPierre have denied wrongdoing. The case is set to go to trial starting Monday. 

James celebrated LaPierre’s resignation in a statement Friday, while committing to continue the case. One of the demands for the trail was LaPierre’s removal as executive.

“While the end of the Wayne LaPierre era is an important victory in our case, our push for accountability continues. LaPierre's resignation validates our claims against him, but it will not insulate him or the NRA from accountability,” she said. “Our case will move ahead, and we look forward to proving the facts in court.”

Updated 4:06 p.m. Jan. 5.

This is not a drill

Have you ever wanted to live más — without leaving the house? Thanks to Walmart, you can now think outside the bun in the comfort of your own kitchen. Taco Bell has partnered with Walmart to exclusively sell Crunchwrap Supreme and Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla meal kits, packed with Taco Bell seasonings and sauces that will let you re-create fast-food favorites without even having to enter a drive-thru.

And before you run out to get your hands on these “cravings kits,” you’ll want to make sure you have everything you need for an at-home taco party — from taco holders to themed hand towels.

Get these kits to make Taco Bell Crunchwraps and quesadillas at home

Taco Bell at Home “cravings kits” are available exclusively at Walmart. Currently, you can get kits to make Crunchwrap Supremes and Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas at home.

The Crunchwrap Supreme kit sells for $7 and includes four 12-inch flour tortillas, four crunchy tostada shells, Velveeta cheese sauce and taco seasoning.

The Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla kit also sells for $7 and includes four 10-inch flour tortillas, creamy chipotle sauce and Velveeta cheese sauce.

With both kits, you need to add your own protein. You can also add your own fresh toppings, like lettuce, tomato, guacamole and anything else your heart desires. This is truly living más.

Must-haves for taco lovers

Corque Taco Holders Set of 6

Make taco night much more colorful with this set of six taco holders in bright neon colors. Taco holders are the best way to level up your taco game — they hold your soft shells upright, keeping all your toppings securely inside. They’re even reversible — they can hold two tacos on one side and three on the other.

LXOMILL Funny Taco Kitchen Towels

Show everyone your love of tacos with this set of two funny taco-themed dish towels. One pictures a hard-shell taco with the message, “Every now and then I fall apart.” The other has the uplifting missive, “You can’t make everyone happy, you are not a taco.” Words to live by.

mermaker Burritos Tortilla Throw Blanket 2.0

Ever wondered what it would feel like to be a burrito? Wonder no more. You can get cozy inside this oversized tortilla throw blanket for movie night, Taco Tuesday or any other occasion.

Primitives by Kathy Not A Taco Inset Sign

Need to decorate your home for taco night? This sign is the perfect piece to add, with that message that everyone needs to hear once in a while: “You can’t make everyone happy, you’re not a taco.”

Alex and Eve Home Bamboo Taco Tray with Tong

When you need to feed a crowd (with tacos), this tray is the perfect thing to add to your arsenal. It’s 16 inches long with slots to hold up to eight hard-shell tacos, perfectly upright so all their toppings stay in place. Happy Taco Tuesday!

Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.

Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.

Christina Marfice writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

Winners will be chosen by grade school level, with an award of $500, plus an additional $1,000 to be used towards the STEAM programs at their school.

In order for a teacher or educator to be eligible, they must be involved in the classroom setting in a West Virginia school for at least 1 year. Teachers and educators can nominate their selves, or be nominated by colleagues, students, or anyone familiar with the environmental program that is running the event.

Awards will be given based on the outstanding environmental work that teacher or educators expressed through their lesson plans and other work that is taught to the students.

Last year's winners were:

• Tiffany Pace, Cross Lanes Elementary, Kanawha County
• Amelia Mullens, Barrackville Middle School, Marion County
• Renee Haines, Martinsburg High School, Berkeley County

To nominate yourself or a fellow educator, applications are available at: https://dep.wv.gov. Type in “Make It Shine” in the search bar. For more information, contact Annette Hoskins at: Annette.L.Hoskins@wv.gov or call 304-926-0499 ext. 49759.

The deadline for application submission is February 14, 2024.