2008.12.31
High wind warning issued; 59 mph gust reported at Roanoke
The wind advisory was upgraded to a high wind warning this morning for Southwest Virginia along and west of the Blue Ridge, including the Roanoke and New River valleys. During the last hour, a wind gust of 59 mph was reported at Roanoke Regional Airport earlier this morning. It doesn't look to be the same frequency and intensity of gusts as the Feb. 10 windstorm, but still there will be some trees, limbs and power lines downed by the wind in a few locations today; there already have been many power outages. My lights have been blinking some in southern Roanoke County.
It's very interesting to see how the temperatures have danced around overnight, looking at Roanoke's hour by hour reports. It was 38 at 1 a.m. under clear skies and calm winds, but then shot up to 50 in two hours as downsloping west winds ahead of the cold front brought in a surge of mild air. After peaking at 53, the cold front passed, the winds switched to a more northwesterly angle, and the temperature fell to 41. The airport was even reporting a little snow as of a few minutes ago ... a few flurries and snow showers are possible today, but nothing significant.
RSS feed 
Small tree limbs down, about a half-inch, broken vinyl coverings on roof extentions,flying snow flurries. Winds has gust at least up 45-50mph, this morning at 8:35am. This occured in the NW section, Cove Road area. This year came in like a lion and is going out like a big Grizzle Bear!
Comment by B.Smith — December 31, 2008 @ 12:48 pm
We've had some pretty gusty winds in the NRV this morning. My wife called and as she was weighing down our trash can to keep it from blowing down the street, she said a large tree limb off our maple tree broke free and landed on our trailer we use for our lawn mower, causing it to bounce around a bit. I also had to repair some vinyl siding that broke free in some winds a little over a week ago, but so far it's holding in place with the current winds.
Comment by Other John — December 31, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
At my office in Blacksburg, we had a canopy covering our entrance doorway to shield it from rain. Emphasis on had...it broke loose sometime this morning. All that I found a few moments ago were a few bolts and brackets on the ground. I don't know if it simply fell and was removed by some maintenance folks, or if it blew away, but it's definitely not attached to the building now. With the wind the way it has been this morning, it could be clear across town by now.
Comment by Other John — December 31, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
About your temp readings, Kevin. It was 48 degrees when I awakened before 6 AM and still at that temp at 6:35. When I saw the RRA readings on TWC at 11:40 AM, it was 36 degrees with wind WNW at 29, gusting to 40. I doubt if the temp rose more than a degree or two after that. After I got home, Nancy and I looked out our front door (SSW direction) at about 7:15 and there was a beautiful crescent moon just above Venus (or so said Nancy).
Comment by Doug Griggs — December 31, 2008 @ 9:16 pm
I watched a wood stop sign split in half at work this morning. Then, this afternoon, we temporarily had white out conditions. I took a video; I'm going to upload it and send you a link.
Comment by Brandon R. — December 31, 2008 @ 9:22 pm