Charleston , Kanawha County , West Virginia

Drivers were being advised to use caution Wednesday as the result of windy and slick conditions in some areas. It was good advice.

Eyewitness News Meteorologist Doug Harlow warned winds in the valleys were expected to gust to 30 to 35 mph. In the mountains, wind gusts could approach 60 mph through mid-afternoon.

Fighting that weather damage got a volunteer firefighter hurt as he tried to clear a road-blocking tree from downed lines on U.S. 19 in Raleigh County. He managed to walk away later.

So did a family that saw powerful gust of wind drop a tree on their SUV on the West Virginia Turnpike near Mossy. The impact knocked put the windshield and tore away part of the dashboard, but injuries were limited to minor cuts from a shotgun like blast of flying safety glass.

Snow, ice, sleet and freezing rain added to wind problems..



Ice and snow were forecast for areas east of US 19. The counties with the brunt of the winter weather were expected to be those bordering Virginia -- Pocahontas, Greenbrier and Randolph. Elsewhere in the Eyewitness News viewership area periods of rain were expected.

Temperatures Wednesday were forecast in the high 40s and possibly approaching 50 degrees, but north and east of Charleston the high temperatures were not expected to get out of the 30s.

Harlow said travel was expected to be messy in in most of Ohio, western Maryland and heading toward Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, a little bit of snow was forecast for Wednesday night and 1 inch of snow or less was expected by dawn Thursday in the valleys.

The National Weather Service reported that a winter storm system is bringing a messy mix of snow, ice, sleet and freezing rain to parts of West Virginia.

Winter storm warnings are in effect for Preston and Tucker counties, and the Eastern and Northern panhandles until 6 a.m. Thursday.

Randolph and Pocahontas counties are under an ice storm warning until 7 p.m. Thursday.

The National Weather Service says western Grant, Mineral and Pendleton counties could receive 6 to 10 inches of snow and sleet. Three to 5 inches are expected in the counties' eastern areas.

Four to 8 inches of snow are expected in Hancock, Brooke and Ohio counties. Sleet and freezing rain also are possible.

Preston and Tucker counties could receive 3 to 6 inches of heavy snow, along with sleet and freezing rain at times.

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