All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Ice, ice baby: WVDOH preparing for wintery mix

CHARLESTON, WV – With rain moving into the Mountain State on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, and temperatures expected to drop over the coming days, West Virginia Division of Highways snow removal and ice control crews are getting ready to deal with a wintery mix that may include rain, freezing rain, snow, and ice.

“We put our plan together, we have our people on standby and our trucks are ready to go,” said State Highway Engineer Alan Reed, P.E. “Whatever comes along, we load up and head out to take care of it.”

While drivers may be used to driving in snow, it’s the ice they should be especially wary of, said Joe Pack, P.E., WVDOH Deputy State Highway Engineer for Division Operations.

“Driving on ice is completely different from driving in snow,” Pack said. “With snow, it’s obvious what road conditions are. A thin layer of ice may not be apparent to drivers, who may just think the road is wet.”

The National Weather Service predicted rain continuing through the day and evening of Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. With temperatures expected to drop sharply on the morning of Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, accumulations of ice on roadways around West Virginia is a distinct possibility.

While forecasters were predicting only an inch or so of snow during the next few days, the National Weather Service said up to three-tenths of an inch of ice accumulation was possible. The National Weather Service warned that a layer of ice on the road can make for very slick driving conditions, or make travel nearly impossible.

Snow control and ice removal crews change their tactics when dealing with ice, adding more abrasives into their road salt mixtures to provide more traction for motorists.

“We have any combination of using either straight salt, or a mix of stone and salt, or any variation thereof to be able to handle whatever condition is out there,” Reed said.

Especially when dealing with ice, the West Virginia Division of Highways urges motorists to stay home if possible. If drivers do have to venture out on icy roads, drive slowly, take your time, and stay safe.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Help Wanted: City of Buckhannon seeking municipal office clerk

The City of Buckhannon is looking for a motivated, well-organized clerk to support its municipal and utility offices. The position is central to serving the public and helping manage the day-to-day operations of local government and utility services.

Upshur County Public Library offers Food for Fines program in November to support local hunger relief

The Upshur County Public Library will accept non-perishable food donations in exchange for reduced library fines throughout November during its Food for Fines program.

Upshur County Special Olympics teams bring home silver medals

Upshur County Special Olympics teams earned silver medals in volleyball and unified flag football at the state fall festival in Parkersburg, marking the program’s first flag football team in over eight years.

Remember pancreatic cancer awareness in November and wear purple on Nov. 20

Annette Fetty-Santilli reminds community to observe November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and wear purple on Nov. 20 to raise awareness and advocate for increased federal research funding for a disease with low early detection and a 13% five-year survival rate.
BUHS Girls Soccer Feature Image

Five Lady Bucs named to WVHSSCA Class AAAA All-State Team

Five Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Bucs — Mallory Hughes, Sidney Hollen, Rylen Carlyle, Kallie Perry and Haley Triplett — were named to the WVHSSCA Class AAAA girls All-State teams.

Raising the Jolly Roger With… Garrett Cutright

Buckhannon-Upshur senior Garrett Cutright, a multi-sport athlete headed to WVU for petroleum engineering, reflects on favorite moments, coaches, family influences, and advice for future Buccaneers.
WVWC Volleyball

Wesleyan volleyball takes down Yellow Jackets in straight sets

West Virginia Wesleyan swept West Virginia State 25–22, 25–23, 25–23 behind 14 kills from Lisdarelyn Grassals, strong defense led by Alexis Moeschler’s 22 digs, and efficient attacking from Bhrooke Axe and Emily Denison.
BUHS Girls Soccer Feature Image

Hollen First Team, Triplett and Hughes Second Team All-Conference in soccer

Buckhannon-Upshur senior Sidney Hollen earned First Team Big 10 All-Conference honors in girls soccer while teammates Mallory Hughes and Haley Triplett were named to the Second Team as Eryn Ashcraft was voted Player of the Year.
BUHS Boys Soccer Feature Image

Three soccer Bucs earn Second-Team All-Conference honors

Three Buckhannon-Upshur juniors — forward Coby Smith, midfielder Deacon Thorne and defender Zack Simmons — were named to the 2025 All Big 10 Conference Second Team, with Bridgeport sweeping top honors.