ICE COVERING CALHOUN AT MIDNIGHT - Road Conditions Hazardous, More Winter Weather

(02/16/2003)

3 AM SUNDAY - Ice was covering roads, trees and lines in Calhoun County starting at midnight. Tree limbs and some lines were down at this hour.

Road conditions EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS.

"This is by far, by far, the biggest of the season and potentially very much more hazardous," said John Victory, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Charleston.

A mixture of winter weather has developed across the region this evening. Freezing rain along with some sleet and snow are making travel difficult. Ice accumulations of a quarter to a half inch are possible before changing over to sleet and snow during the overnight hours. While snow accumulations will be light overnight... 1 to 3 inches... the amounts will increase on Sunday with total accumulations reaching 3 to 7 inches by nightfall.

Call to action --- a Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow is issued when significant amounts of snow are forecast. Snowfall intensities will be heavy enough to substantially reduce visibility at times. Roads will become hazardous... and travel is not recommended.

Sunday AM

Occasional rain...freezing rain...and sleet changing to sleet and snow after midnight. Accumulation 1 to 3 inches. Lows 23 to 28. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Sunday

Occasional snow...mixed with sleet at times. Total accumulation...3 to 7 inches. Continued cold with highs in the upper 20s. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.

Sunday Night

Occasional snow. Any additional accumulation expected to be light. Lows in the lower 20s. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 90 percent.

Washington's Birthday

Snow likely...mainly in the morning. Any accumulation expected to be light. Continued cold with highs in the lower 30s. East winds 15 mph becoming northwest early in the afternoon. Chance of snow 70 percent.

Monday Night

Cloudy. A chance of light snow until midnight. Lows in the lower 20s. Chance of snow 40 percent.