Due to its importance and relevance, I am taking the liberty of sending the following information to all lists.
After communication with Chris Leonardi of the NWS Pittsburgh. it has been determined that we will activate the North Central West Virginia Skywarn Net on Sunday, 25 January 2026.
The NWS has emphasized that they will be looking especially to amateur radio for our snowfall amounts...so please measure what you have at your location and report it to the Net.
We will use the model that we have used during other snowfall events--that is we will check for snowfall reports every hour on the hour. Therefore you will not need to be continuously on the repeater. I will provide more specific timing details as we get closer to Sunday.
Now, specifically for our area, this is the information that I received from the NWS Pittsburgh. Please note that this is updated information even from the messages that I sent out earlier this morning:
Significant winter storm and prolonged cold weather us expected across West Virginia
What We Know:
● Precipitation Type: All Snow ● Timing:
○ Flurries starting Saturday evening
○ Peak accumulation… 1am-7pm Sunday
● Accumulations:
○ Favoring 8”-15” locally approaching 18”
○ Higher terrain in West Virginia could approach 24".
● Snowfall Rates:
○ Less certain, but 0.5-1”/hr likely with shorter bursts of 1”to 2”/hr possible
What We Don’t Know:
● Snow totals have increased, owing to the models favoring the northern track. Here, it's becoming obvious that the only aspect we don’t know is who will have 12 inch + totals. Confidence is high to reach warning totals.
Jeff, WB1AAL