Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The latest on the winter storm in West Virginia (all times local):
3:34 p.m.
With heavy snow expected all weekend, more truckers are telling workers at Little Sandy's Truck Stop they'll be sticking around overnight.
Jennifer Javosky, a cashier at the Bruceton Mills business, said several truckers told her Friday they'd be seeing her more. They often stop there before heading into Maryland, use the facilities and some stay at a motel in town.
The shop already sold out of milk once Friday and got an emergency delivery. A fresh assortment of bread also came in Friday. But there's no guarantee they'll stay stocked.
"When it gets out that we have milk, it probably isn't going to last long," Javosky said.
___
2 p.m.
Appalachian Power says gusty winds that are forecast for the winter storm could cause problems on power lines in its service area this weekend.
The utility says significant outages are possible in portions of the company's service area in West Virginia, southwest Virginia and Tennessee on Friday night and Saturday.
Neither Appalachian Power nor FirstEnergy had reported significant outages in the state through midday Friday.
___
1:45 p.m.
State officials say more than a dozen warming stations and shelters have opened up across West Virginia as heavy snow continues to fall.
Officials said stations are available for residents in Cabell, Fayette, Kanawha, McDowell, Nicholas, Putnam and Wood counties.
Five of those are in Huntington.
The list of stations is available on the West Virginia Emergency Response website at www.facebook.com/WVJonas .
The American Red Cross also says it is opening a shelter Friday at the Jefferson County High School gymnasium in Shenandoah Junction.
___
10:15 a.m.
Both chambers of the West Virginia Legislature have met and quickly adjourned due to this weekend's snowstorm.
The House of Delegates began a very brief session just after 9 a.m. Friday. The House won't meet again until 1 p.m. Monday to give lawmakers time to travel back.
The Senate session started just after 10 a.m. Friday. Senators will be back in session at 11 a.m. Monday.
The 60-day legislative session began Jan. 13.
___
9:50 a.m.
West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has declared a state of emergency due to this weekend's snowstorm.
The declaration Friday activates state resources to address winter conditions and keep residents safe. The West Virginia National Guard, Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety and the Department of Transportation are among those activated to help.
Earlier this week Tomblin declared a state of preparedness, which is a step below a state of emergency.
A state of emergency does not restrict travel or require the closing of schools or businesses. Public schools are closed in 51 of the state's 55 counties.
It also does not mean the state will receive federal assistance.
___
8:45 a.m.
Marshall University and West Virginia University have canceled classes on Friday due to the approaching storm.
The universities say in statements that the announcements apply to all of their campuses.
Public schools are closed in 51 of the state's 55 counties. The exceptions are in Doddridge County and in the Northern Panhandle, where the storm wasn't expected to hit until Friday afternoon. Schools in Doddridge, Marshall and Ohio counties planned to send students home early due to the storm.
___
8:20 a.m.
In Craigsville, located in the central mountains where up to 2 feet of snow is projected to fall, Missy Keaton says residents came to the Hardware, That's Us store where she works to buy plenty of kerosene heaters, propane tanks and gas cans in preparation for the storm.
In October 2012, snow from Superstorm Sandy caused numerous roof collapses in nearby Summersville, forcing a grocery store and a convenience store to close. Other roof collapses involved an elementary school, an apartment complex, a hardwood plant and three homes.
Keaton says she believes a lot of residents are prepared this time after what the area went through in 2012.
Just in case, Keaton says her store sells a rake that helps residents get the snow off their roofs.
___
7:45 a.m.
While some residents and businesses worry about the effect of a large storm making its way across the U.S., at least one industry is loving all the snow: ski resorts.
Many resorts got a late start to the season because of record high temperatures in December. The storm that started to arrive in some states Friday is expected to dump feet of snow in some areas. In West Virginia, up to 2 feet is forecast.
Joe Stevens of the West Virginia Ski Areas Association says, "There is never too much snow on the slopes." But he admitted that getting to and from resorts on icy roads could be problematic, as could clearing snow from parking lots packed with visitors.
Still, he says, skiing and snowboarding will be excellent at the state's four major resorts: Snowshoe Mountain, Canaan Valley, Winterplace and Timberline.
___
7:30 a.m.
Parts of West Virginia could be under 2 feet or more of snow by the end of the weekend, and that could threaten to break some snowfall records.
According to the National Weather Service, the most snow to fall in a 24-hour period in Beckley was 31 inches in January 1998.
Clarksburg recorded 24 inches over 24 hours in November 1950. Elkins' record is 20.7 inches in 2009.
The blizzard of March 1993 dumped nearly 22 inches in Huntington, 20 inches in Parkersburg and 17.2 inches in Charleston over a 24-hour period.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
