2008.11.17
Best chance of heavier snow: Midnight to morning rush
The farther west you are in Southwest Virginia, the better your chances of seeing a white ground come Monday morning. The National Weather Service in Blacksburg is a little concerned, as noted in its forecast discussion, that there could be enough upper-level atmospheric support for snow tonight that some brief moderate to heavy bands might even move into the New River Valley and possibly even the Roanoke Valley near the morning rush hour. There's even this ominous wording in the discussion:
A GOOD BURST OF SNOW WITH THIS MESOCALE BAND COULD PUT DOWN A QUICK INCH AFTER MIDNIGHT IN THE ROA/BCB/PSK CORRIDOR.
The mesoscale band refers to the possibility of an upper-level disturbance triggering something a little larger and heavier than the upslope stuff, and ROA/BCB/PSK is Roanoke-Blacksburg-Pulaski.
So there may be an outside chance at that first 1-incher of the season tonight ... but it's not likely in the Roanoke Valley, with the Roanoke Regional Airport being what counts for the snow contest (official Roanoke snowfall has been measured at nearby WDBJ, Channel 7, in recent years). Many of you in the New River Valley and locations west of Roanoke will wake up to a dusting or a little more, and some of you on west-facing slopes nearer to West Virginia may get a few inches.
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No sooner do I get this posted than my storm-chasing friend Dave Carroll sends me an e-mail noting a heavy snow squall at his residence in Blacksburg with accumulation starting to develop on roadways.
Comment by kevinmyatt — November 17, 2008 @ 10:00 pm
They just issued a Special Weather Statement highlighting just that.
Comment by Brandon R. — November 17, 2008 @ 10:27 pm
That seems about right Kevin. We've got white ground in Pulaski County near Radford & Fairlawn after a decent snow squall moved through a little while ago, although our roads are just wet for the moment. Looking at our back deck, we probably have a half inch so far and it looks like a few more squalls are poised to move through in the next several hours. Earlier I didn't think we'd get to the inch mark, but now I'd be surprised if we don't get there by morning across much of the NRV. Ought to make for a fun morning commute, I don't think VDOT had planned on having many road crews ready and waiting.
Comment by Other John — November 17, 2008 @ 10:47 pm
Radar is currently showing a heavy snow band taking aim on Roanoke, the leading edge now moving out of Craig County into Roanoke County ... we'll see if this one can survive and make it into the Roanoke Valley ... if it does, we might get dusted in the next hour ... at the least, we'll probably see some vigorous flurries or briefly heavy snow showers ...
Comment by kevinmyatt — November 18, 2008 @ 12:30 am
So far, just a few flurries over here near the airport.
Comment by Brandon R. — November 18, 2008 @ 1:11 am
I live about 10 miles west of Martinsville and I just had a snowshower that lasted about 15 minutes and it snowed moderately for about 5 min. There was no accumulation but hopefully its a sign of things to come.
Comment by Andrew T — November 18, 2008 @ 1:17 am
It's coming down now Kev.
Comment by Brandon R. — November 18, 2008 @ 1:25 am
Sticking real good here in Roanoke City now.
These are big, fat flakes coming down. Looks like the moisture is giving everything it can.
Comment by Brandon R. — November 18, 2008 @ 1:53 am
Wherever you're at in the city, Brandon, I think you're getting it better than we've had here at the south edge in Roanoke County ... though we are getting a moderate snow shower currently and a little is starting to collect on grass and car tops ...
Comment by kevinmyatt — November 18, 2008 @ 2:19 am
I'm right at the airport. Right between Hershberger and Williamson.
It's not doing anything now but it was coming down nice earlier. Nice little dusting on the grassy surfaces.
Comment by Brandon R. — November 18, 2008 @ 2:31 am
Heavy snow squall hit here 10 minutes ago, leaving a dusting on the grass, car tops, trees, etc. ... lots of big conglomerated flakes, blowing around ...
Comment by kevinmyatt — November 18, 2008 @ 2:49 am
It is snowing at a pretty good rate next to Tanglewood Mall. The cars and roof tops are cover with a good coating of snow with big snowflakes currently coming down
Comment by DAVID S — November 18, 2008 @ 2:59 am