Snow to usher in new year: ; Weekend temperatures to drop into 20s; crews expected to pre-treat roads, remain on standby

Highways crews may spend the first day of 2010 clearing andtreating roadways, as Old Man Winter is scheduled to deliver snowshowers and blustery cold throughout the state just in time for theNew Year.

Andrew Beavers, a meteorologist with the National Weather Servicein Charleston, says intermittent snow showers will hit most of WestVirginia starting this morning and continuing through Sunday.Temperatures are expected to drop into the low 30s today and then tothe low 20s and teens Saturday, making for a frigid couple of days.

"With these temperatures being so low, the snow is not going tomelt like it has been," said Beavers. "We could have a couple ofinches of accumulation over the whole weekend."

Department of Highways spokesman Brent Walker says workers willbe out pre-treating roads and remain on standby despite the holiday.

"We fully expect the roads will be clear and smooth sailing,"said Walker. "While we're all celebrating New Year's, our crews willbe out doing what they're trained to do."

A storm that hit West Virginia the weekend of Dec. 18-20 dumpedup to two feet of snow in some southern areas of the state. Walkersays dealing with the aftermath took its toll on the department'sresources but crews are prepared to handle round two.

"We certainly used a lot of salt and calcium chloride to treatthe roads (two weeks ago)," said Walker. "But we'll have enough.We're well-stocked statewide, and we also have contracts and will bereplenishing."

The earlier snowstorm also caused a major traffic tie-up on theWest Virginia Turnpike that left hundreds of motorists stranded forup to 20 hours.

In preparation for this bout of winter weather, salt trucks, snowplows and courtesy patrols traveling the Turnpike and other stateroadways will be outfitted with extra tow-straps, gas cans andchains to help travelers who may become stranded.

"From the Turnpike standpoint, we'll be in a better position toassist," Walker said. "We had those kinds of things before, but nowwe're making it mandatory that we have additional equipment on eachtruck."

Wind chill also will be a big factor this holiday weekend.Beavers predicts gusts will reach 25 mph today and Saturday. Thosegusts mixed with low temperatures will create a wind chill of about3 degrees Saturday.

"We're looking at almost sub-zero temperatures."

Beavers says most of the precipitation will taper off by Sundayevening but temperatures are expected to rebound only to the mid-30s by Wednesday.

Residents are advised to bundle up, watch out for slick spots onarea roadways and give highways workers plenty of room to do theirjobs.

Daily Mail file photo State highways crews are set to pre-treatsurfaces to avoid the turmoil caused by the winter blast that hitthe weekend of Dec. 18.