Snow moved up the Ohio River Valley and overspread West Virginia during the predawn hours of Tuesday the 27th.  The snow quickly accumulated 2 to 6 inches by late morning.  The deeper snow accumulation was mainly concentrated across central counties from Mason and Jackson, on east toward Clay, Braxton, Nicholas, and Webster.

By afternoon, the snow had decreased and transitioned to intermittent light freezing rain across southern counties. Further north, along the Route 50 corridor, the change to light freezing rain was delayed until around 1600E. The intensity of the freezing rain increased for the evening hours, with temperatures still in the upper 20s.  Ice accretions of around a quarter inch were widespread, with a half inch accumulation more common along the Ohio River counties.  The intensity of the freezing rain decreased after midnight, or early on the 28th, for the Ohio River counties.  Meanwhile, further east, temperatures rose above freezing, allowing just rain to fall.  The exception was Pocahontas County, where some freezing rain lingered. After the low pressure center lifted northeast through West Virginia during the daylight hours, the storm ended as a quick burst of snow in the afternoon. This added a coating of snow on top of the ice.
Numerous trees fell or sagged onto power lines. So the main problem was the loss of electricity.  Evergreen trees were especially vulnerable.  The trees were not only coated with ice, but the rain was absorbed by the snow that was already on the trees, adding more weight. A few homes and vehicles sustained damaged from the fallen trees.  A home in the Enslow Park section of Huntington was heavily damaged by a fallen tree.
One power company alone reported over 45,000 customers without electricity.  The highest concentration was in the southwestern counties of the state, with Cabell and Wayne Counties being the hardest hit.  Some areas in that vicinity were without electricity for 3 to 4 days.  Motels that had electricity were quickly filled. Sheltered were open for those residents without auxilary heat.  The Salvation Army in Huntington housed about 40 people. One resident that stayed at home said, I am wearing two pairs of long johns and a blanket on may lap.  It's 50 degrees inside.  We are surviving.
At a home supply store in Barboursville, people formed a line to wait on a delivery truck with another load of generators.  A power company spokesman said folks seemed to wait until after the storm hit and power was already out, before trying to find an alternative way to heat their homes.

Winter Storm in LINCOLN, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 03:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in KANAWHA, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 03:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in ROANE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 03:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WIRT, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 02:30:00 to 28-JAN-09 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in RITCHIE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 02:30:00 to 28-JAN-09 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in DODDRIDGE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 02:30:00 to 28-JAN-09 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in PUTNAM, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 02:30:00 to 28-JAN-09 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WOOD, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 02:30:00 to 28-JAN-09 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in JACKSON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 02:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in CLAY, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 03:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in BRAXTON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 03:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in NICHOLAS, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 03:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WEBSTER, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 03:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in CALHOUN, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 03:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in GILMER, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 03:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in WAYNE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 02:30:00 to 28-JAN-09 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in CABELL, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 02:30:00 to 28-JAN-09 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Winter Storm in LEWIS, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 04:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in HARRISON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 04:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Winter Storm in TAYLOR, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 04:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in BARBOUR, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 04:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in UPSHUR, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 04:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in RANDOLPH, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 04:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in POCAHONTAS, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 04:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in MASON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 02:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Winter Storm in TYLER, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 02:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in PLEASANTS, WEST VIRGINIA
From 27-JAN-09 02:00:00 to 28-JAN-09 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter