West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) road crews are working around the clock to clean up mudslides and assess road damage in the wake of severe thunderstorms that passed through the state on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, and Thursday, February 6, 2025.
On Wednesday, Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a state of preparedness for all 55 counties, in effect until Friday, February 7, 2025.
The National Weather Service expected heavy rains to cause localized flooding and ice issues in the northern part of the state. Numerous mudslides and flooded roads were reported throughout the Mountain State on Thursday.
According to West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) Chief Engineer of Operations Jake Bumgarner, P.E., the western edge, southern, and central portions of the state saw the heaviest rainfall, leading to mud and rockslides and roads closed by high water. WVDOH crews were clearing storm damage where they could, but crews must wait for the water to recede before they can assess whether roadways themselves will need repaired.
In the mountains and eastern panhandle, Bumgarner said the biggest problem was ice. He said crews fought icy conditions effectively by pretreating roads with brine in anticipation of the coming storm.
WVDOH District 3 Manager Mike Daley said road crews were cleaning up rock slides on US 50 in Ritchie County and US 119 in Roane County. US 50 remained blocked mid-day, with traffic being detoured onto Glendale Road. One lane of US 119 was open as of noon, and road crews had already cleared a slide on WV 2 in Jackson County.
Numerous roads were closed by flooding in District 3, which includes Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood counties.
“They keep going on and on,” Daley said. “We have multiple roads being added to the list.”
The Kanawha Valley and Huntington-Charleston corridor were also hit hard by rainfall. WVDOH District 1 Manager Stefan White said Kanawha County was probably hit hardest by flooding, particularly in the communities of Chelyan, Elkview and North Charleston.
In all, 18 counties reported roads closed by high water on Thursday. Roads were closed in Boone, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Morgan, Nicholas, Putnam, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood counties.
Another storm is expected to arrive this weekend with heavy rain, snow and some ice – with the possibility of heavy snowfall in various areas throughout the state. Governor Morrisey and the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) ask all West Virginians to remain attentive to weather conditions through local media reports and follow any instructions issued by emergency officials.
