Jan. 24—bluefield — Freezing arctic air is hanging around today, but forecasts for both southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia are offering some relief as temperatures start to climb above freezing.
Water freezes when temperatures dip to 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Saturday’s predicted high temperature is 37 degrees in Mercer County and around 36 degrees in Raleigh County. Down south in Tazewell County, Va., Saturday’s high could reach around 36 degrees Saturday and climb to 39 degrees by Monday.
Today is expected to be cooler than Thursday with a high of 25 and scattered snow flurries, but the weekend looks like it will start being warmer, said meteorologist Ben Gruver with the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Va.
“Looks like finally by the weekend we would see temps get above freezing,” he said. “As we get into next week, it will be closer to normal for this time of year.”
People were still seeking warm shelter and help with heating Thursday. Today’s temperatures around the region were expected to be highs about 25 degrees with lows around 10 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Executive Director Craig Hammond of the Bluefield Union Mission checked his records Thursday and counted the number of people who sought shelter Wednesday evening.
“We had 12 last night, but many of them returned to their homes or found other accommodations and today we’ve had only three,” Hammond said. “I think it’s slowing down. So yes, it’s slowed down not only for shelter requests. We’re still doing quite a bit with warm coats and blankets, but it’s considerably less than what we’ve had over the last five days.”
The union mission was still getting more requests than usual for heating oil as well as kerosene, coal and wood. Hammond said a surprisingly number of people still heat their homes with coal and wood.
“But I’d say the number one is kerosene,” he said.
A warming center was opened Thursday evening in Mercer County due to low temperatures that were expected. Located inside the Salvation Army at 300 Princeton Avenue in Princeton it was open from 7 p.m. Thursday until 8 a.m. today, according to Sgt. Melissa White with the Salvation Army.
Mercer County Commission funding which allowed the Salvation Army to provide shelter at a local motel has been depleted, so the warming station was at the Princeton Avenue center.
One person came Wednesday evening to the warming center and alternate shelter was found for him, White said. The Salvation Army needs volunteers to staff warming centers.
People interested in being a warming center volunteer can call the Salvation Army at 304-425-2971. Applicants will need to pass a background check, she said.
In Raleigh County, the Beckley Warming Center opened Thursday at the Beckley Community United Methodist Church at 217 South Heber Street, according to the United Way of Southern West Virginia. It opened at 8 p.m. and was scheduled to remain open until 7 a.m. today.
Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com
Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com