My husband and I decided we’d take my son over to see my 92 year old grandmother at the rehabilitation center early this afternoon.  The roads were fine and the snow was getting sporadic, so we thought it would be okay to take a little ride over to see her.  Little did we know that things would change very quickly.  Soon, even the main roads (even Electric Road and Brambleton) were covered and the snow was falling rapidly.  Fortunately we have 4-wheel drive, but there were plenty of cars out there that looked as though they were struggling… some even had to turn around at some of the bigger hills near our house.

None of these photos are glamour shots, but they’ll show you how bad the roads are right now.  My husband, son and I are now safely at home and enjoying being together on this snowy afternoon.  Be careful out there!

For a different local trail with a nice view check out Bald Knob in Rocky Mount. A very short public hike beginning at the Franklin County High School track leads up Bald Knob for a 360 degree view. Rocky Mount, Smith Mountain and the Peaks of Otter are among the sights you will see. Stan and Janice King of SW county helped us discover this trail recently.

Submitted by Tim and Renee Thornhill

Still mostly unknown, Buffalo Mountain is a nice 2 mile hike with a super view. Paul and Scott Clower of SW county checked it out recently.

Submitted by Tim Thornhill

This was the view that greeted us as the kids hopped in the car for the daily ride to school this morning! (Feb 27, 2013) Apparently our house is “Over the Rainbow”!

Submitted by Michele Hancock

On Feb. 27, we looked outside to find the weather acting strangely! We live on the top of lost mountain facing Bent mountain, which is in the background of the picture.

Submitted by Emily Chrisman

Tim Thornhill of Southwest Roanoke County sent in these photos of the frozen Cascade Falls.

Thanks, Tim!

A surprise snow day for many on Friday, February 8… and boy, was it fun!  Kids, adults and even dogs had fun in the snow.  Loren Wright shares her pictures and shows all of us what a snow day looks like in Southwest County.  Thanks Loren!

If you have pictures of your snow day, please send them along to news@swo-co.com.

It didn’t just rain on Wednesday, January 30… it poured.  The results can be seen in these pictures submitted by Loren Wright.  Thanks Loren!

If you have pictures you’d like to submit please send them to news@swo-co.com.

The Roanoke Times has regional updates on the storm here. For more weather news, see weather journalist Kevin Myatt’s Weather Journal.

Submitted by Nan Fariss

Grandchildren Emma (3) and Jacob (7) Fariss have fun in the first snow of this year in grandma’s yard.

Submitted by Nan Fariss

The Mill Mountain Zoo… a gem of the Roanoke Valley and one that needs your help.  You can read more about the zoo here and their need for your support… but for now just enjoy these beautiful pictures that Loren Wright took on Sunday, January 20.  She writes: “I rarely go to the zoo in the winter, but Sunday was so pretty out that I decided to go. I really enjoyed it. Go support the ZOO!”

Thanks for sending these pictures Loren!

If you have some pictures you’d like to share just send them to news@swo-co.com or upload them to Flickr using the share button on our website.