Temps in the teens, wind-chill near zero prompt schools to delay classes Tuesday

Kanawha and Putnam county schools remain on a regular schedule Tuesday morning, but districts in surrounding counties have changed their learning plans.

• Boone County: 3-hour delay

• Clay County: Non-traditional learning

• Fayette County: Non-traditional learning

• Lincoln County: 3-hour delay. Staff to report two hours late with the exception of custodians, maintenance, and mechanics who will report on a one-hour delay.

• Nicholas County: Non-traditional learning.

• Raleigh County: 2-hour delay

• Roane County: 2-hour delay

Click here to find a full list of school district closings across West Virginia.

Weather forecast

Today will be sunny, according to the National Weather Service in Charleston, but with a high only in the mid-20s, and a low in the mid-teens tonight.

Wednesday will be warmer, with cloudy conditions developing and a high in the high 40s. Rain is possible Wednesday night with a low around freezing.

Thursday will be more of the same, but temperatures will drop on Friday with a low around 10 Friday night. It will stay bitterly cold through the weekend with a possible low of 8 on Sunday night.

The NWS is tracking the potential for a winter storm in West Virginia this weekend, but the direction of the system and its impacts on West Virginia are uncertain at this time.

Additional information and updates can be found at weather.gov/rlx as well as on the Charleston Gazette-Mail's X account and Facebook page.

Get up-to-the-minute road conditions in West Virginia provided by the state Department of Transportation. Call 511 or online at wv511.org.

Prepare for extreme cold

• In your home or business, protect pipes from freezing and know where your water shut-off valves are located

• Wear warm, loose-fitting clothes in layers

• Check to make sure your family and friends are OK

• Bring in pets

• Use off-street parking and/or garages to allow salt trucks and plows clear passage to maintain streets and roads

Get tips on winter preparedness at weather.gov/wrn/winter_safety. Find winter safety tips from Appalachian Power Co. at appalachianpower.com/safety.

Warming shelter, cold weather tips

A warming shelter will be open in Charleston from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. Tuesday night at the Bream SHOP, 319 W. Washington St., W on Charleston’s West Side. Additional days may be added, depending on overnight lows.

Local emergency managers and community groups are working to report open shelters to West Virginia 211. Those in need of assistance should visit wv211.org or call 211 for information on nearby shelters and resources.

Hypothermia can occur when the body’s temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Warning signs include:

• Uncontrollable shivering

• Memory loss

• Confusion

• Drowsiness

Children should avoid playing outdoors in such conditions, and pets should be brought inside to ensure their safety. Frostbite primarily affects extremities like fingers, toes, earlobes and nose tips. Protective clothing, including hats, gloves and insulated footwear, is crucial for prevention.

Residents without adequate heating sources should contact their local emergency manager or health department for information on the nearest shelter or warming station.