CHARLESTON – The National Weather Service has upgraded this weekend’s Winter Storm Watch to a Winter Storm Warning, calling for a possible 9 inches to 17 inches throughout the region.

On Friday morning, the NWS issued a Winter Storm Warning for most of the state, including Randolph, Barbour, Upshur, Tucker and Pocahontas counties. The Warning will be in effect from 7 a.m. Saturday morning until between 7 a.m. and noon on Monday.

In Randolph and Pocahontas counties, heavy mixed precipitation is expected with total snow and sleet accumulations between 9 and 14 inches. Ice accumulations between one tenth and three tenths of an inch are also expected with winds gusting as high as 35 mph.

According to the NWS power outages and tree damage are likely to happen in these areas due to the ice. Travel could be nearly impossible with hazardous conditions possibly impacting the Monday morning commute.

In Tucker County, heavy snow is expected with possible mixed precipitation. Snow accumulations could be between 12 and 17 inches with ice accumulations around a light glaze.

The NWS states that persons in this area should consider delaying all travel. If travel is “absolutely necessary,” motorists should use extreme caution.

Heavy mixed precipitation is also expected in Barbour and Upshur counties. Total snow accumulations could be between 9 and 12 inches with ice accumulations around two tenths of an inch.

According to the NWS, travel in these areas could be very difficult to impossible, with hazardous conditions possibly impacting the Monday morning commute.

A Cold Weather Advisory has also been issued for Randolph, Barbour, Upshur, Tucker and Pocahontas counties from Friday afternoon until Saturday morning. The area should expect “very cold” wind chills as low as 10 or 11 degrees below zero. These cold temperatures could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken, the NWS states.