PARKERSBURG - While surrounding areas are being battered by ice and snow, the Mid-Ohio Valley will mostly see rain.
Tim Axford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Charleston, said the area will be affected by two different storm systems during the next several days.
The first storm system, which is dumping snow, icing roads and even producing damaging weather such as tornadoes, has largely moved around the Mid-Ohio Valley.
"This is a strong, low-pressure system centered over Kentucky. It is going to push over top of the area and bring mostly rain," he said Wednesday.
The rain comes even as nearby areas, such as Columbus and Zanesville, see snow or a mix of rain and snow.
"In that relatively short distance there is quite a bit of difference," he said. "You are seeing a sharp line between the areas of rain and snow."
The rain is expected to turn to snow overnight in Parkersburg and the surrounding area as temperatures drop to slightly below freezing. Axford said the Parkersburg area could see 1-2 inches of snow overnight, and wet areas could be subject to freezing.
"It won't be a heavy snow, but there is a high chance with low accumulation," he said. The dip in temperatures "is certainly enough to freeze up some water on the roads, especially on the bridges and overpasses, so be cautious."
Rick Lemley, public works director for Parkersburg, said city officials are prepared for the possibility of snow and ice.
"We will have crews out monitoring and will treat the streets as necessary," he said Wednesday.
The snow is expected to taper off before noon today, and Axford said late today and throughout Friday the temperatures should rise slightly, possibly into the low 40s.
"We should have a little bit of a break on Friday," he said. "You may even see the sun peeking out a bit."
Saturday, however, will bring a new storm system to the area as a clipper system and a low pressure system combine over the area.
"As these systems combine, there will be more cold air in place for us in West Virginia and the Mid-Ohio Valley," Axford said. "That could mean some accumulating snowfall. It looks like the best chance for snow would be late Saturday morning and going into the afternoon."
Axford said it was too early to predict the amount of snowfall, as numerous weather factors will be at play. The National Weather Service hopes to have more accurate numbers Friday, he said.
