MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– The Morgantown area is bracing for a major winter storm that will usher in bitter cold temperatures for the next week.

According to MetroNews AccuWeather, a winter storm watch goes into effect Sunday at 1 p.m. and continues through 7 p.m. Monday. A low-pressure system moving out of the Rocky Mountains will intensify over the Great Plains and enter the Ohio River Valley Sunday.

Meteorologist Bill Modelski said Saturday could start with some flurries, then clouds and a high in the mid 20s. Saturday night, expect gradual clearing with a low in the teens, and Sunday is when the weather pattern begins to change.

“Sunday should be a little warmer as we get into the upper 20s with snow moving in mid-day or more toward the evening that will continue into Monday,” Modelski said.

The system will likely include a wintery mix that could dictate the final accumulation total, but Modelski expects a significant impact for travel during the Monday morning commute.

“A patch of snow is going to be moving across the area into Monday, and that looks to be the peak intensity for the snowfall,” Modelski said. “We could get some freezing rain to mix late Sunday night and early Monday morning.”

Sunday night, heavy snow is possible at times with a steady temperature near 20 degrees and wind gusts of up to 20 miles per hour. Total accumulations will vary by area and the amount of freezing rain in the system.

“The snowfall rate should start dropping off through the day Monday,” Modelski said. “But, right now for Morgantown, there’s a potential for at least six inches of snow, possibly higher than that.”

State Department of Transportation Chief Engineer of Operations Joe Pack said they have 231,000 tons of salt stockpiled statewide, 25,000 tons in District 4 that includes some of the most mountainous terrain in the state, and drivers will work 24-hour shifts.

“Our drivers will work 12 hours on and 12 hours off, and they do that until the roads are in good enough condition that we can go back to routine activities and those long days aren’t necessary anymore.”

This system will usher the coldest air of the season into the area with highs in the 20s and lows in the teens to single digits.

“Highs should only be in the 20s, and a couple of those days, Wednesday and Thursday, could struggle to get to the lower 20s,” Modelski said. “Lows should generally be in the single digits to the lower teens through the entire week.”