UPDATE 10:45 AM: Change to snow starting — Wed. morning snow waiting thread
UPDATE 10:45 AM: Moderate to heavy snow/sleet mix now at my location in south Roanoke County. END UPDATE
UPDATE 10AM: Sleet developing rapidly in Roanoke Valley. Heavy sleet at my location in south Roanoke County. Sleet changing to snow in New River Valley. END UPDATE
UPDATE 9:15 AM: If you scan through the comments below — there are starting to be numerous reports of snow and sleet mostly in higher elevations south and southwest of Roanoke as the colder air of the upper low is beginning to drain to the surface, allowing more of the flakes to reach the ground. Most of eastern Kentucky is now reporting snow as well. We’ll see how fast this changeover occurs over the next 2-4 hours. Earlier changeover increases likelihood of substantial accumulations. END UPDATE
The upper-level low and its attendant blob of moisture is at the doorstep this morning. The center of the low is down near where Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia meet — you can see the spin on this national radar loop link — and moving east-northeast, expected to pass just south of us today. Locations along and to the north of its track will likely see rain change to snow as is happening in central Kentucky now. It will change first in higher elevations and work downward, and from the west working eastward. Most areas in Southwest Virgnia will probably be in snow by early afternoon.
Snow lovers will have to let out a big sigh this morning that so much moisture is “going to waste” as rain, with the Arctic air having exited stage right just before this storm developed. Then, they have a difficult on-edge wait today for snow to develop and then begin accumulating. Working in the favor of snow totals similar to the 3-plus kind that have been issued by the weather service and guesstimated here is the likelihood that heavy bands of snow will develop, especially from Roanoke northward, when the upper low passes by to the south. Some thunder is not out of the question as the strong lift of the upper low mimics summer thunderstorm updrafts. Limiting accumulations will be, first and foremost, the borderline temperatures, plus the speed of the system moving through and the possibility that the energy eventually jumps quickly to the surface low on the East Coast, shortening the snowfall time near the Blue Ridge/I-81 corridor.
A winter storm warning remains in effect for most of the region except Southside areas from Martinsville eastward. The snow forecast issued by the weather service (scroll down to “Snow Accumulation Forecast” on this link) is so close to my own running guesstimate of the past couple of days that I will just use it as my map, too. Generally, it’s 3-plus inches most places except Southside, with a maybe some areas of Roanoke city a tad less because of slower accumulation related to low elevation and urban warming effects.
Your observations are welcome — just tell us where you are.
January 26, 2011 - 6:34 AM
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What kind of snowfall rates do you expect we could see in the heavy bands? Also, do you see good ratios in those bands as well?
1-2 inches per hour would not be out of the question in heavier snow bands. In fact, that may be how much of what accumulates does so, not a steady snow for a long time, but short heavy bursts. Best ratios probably near 12:1 going north of us. Borderline temperatures lower down are going to keep us from having much of the fluffier snow that sometimes occurs with these upper lows.
Just measured our rain from overnight and it wasn’t much, just 0.08″. I certainly hope the ULL output is far jucier, otherwise this is going to continue a trend of storms being too dry in the area for my liking.
Still 34 degrees and light rain in Galax. Temperature not budged since 9pm last night. Hope we don’t get dry slotted out of this storm totally as it moves north!
Out here atop a mountain (well, a big hill really) in Elliston at 2022 feet of elevation it is current 33.7 degrees, foggy, raining on and off and winds are blowing right around 20 mph. Temps have been falling ever so slowly all night. Both of the kids’ schools are closed and it’s time to grab a cup of coffee and wait to see what happens. Personally I’d love some thunder to liven things up a bit!
Kevin, do you still estimate that it will change over by 1:00pm today? In Christiansburg, just trying to figure out when to expect things to turn white. Thanks!
Seems warmer then it should be. Also when do you think the transition to snow will happen? I guess I can assume the earlier the better for snow lovers.
Update from Hardy…I notice Franklin schools are now closed. Temp dropped to 34 and very strong east winds…a gust to 20mph in the last ten minutes. Much higher winds than predicted…is this indicative of something Kevin?
I love this site all the weather banter.
Here on Bent Mountain (3150 ft) its hovering around 32 degrees and ice is accumulating on the roads and all raised surfaces. Its foggy too, so I might be tempted to call this freezing fog. The roads are slippery, so be careful out there
Does anyone think that the douhgnut hole shown on the latest run of the GFS varifies?
Litterall a .1-.25 for most of the area.
35 degrees and light rain here in CHO at 7:52 AM. Dewpoint is at 32. We are still under a WS Warning for up to 7-8″ of heavy snow this afternoon/evening. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Its raining and they have pre-announced local schools letting out at 1:00.
Unreal. I remember when it had to actually snow before they let us out and then we had to have a couple inches on the ground at least.
15 hr. snow accumulations from one of the short range models:
http://rapidrefresh.noaa.gov/hrrrconus/displayMap.cgi?keys=hrrr:&runtime=2011012610&plot_type=acsnw_t3sfc&fcst=15&time_inc=60&num_times=16&model=hrrr&ptitle=HRRR%20Model%20Fields&maxFcstLen=15&domain=t3&adtfn=1&wjet=1
Morning calls: Leo on WDBJ7 has Blacksburg at 2.3″, Patrick at Ch. 10 says 4.7″. You know, from the layman’s viewpoint it seems there is not a whole lot more certainty about snow than there was a week ago.
Kevin- you need to do video blogs when we have weather events coming up! Your weather journal is so popular now and I know so many people that don’t even watch local tv weather anymore b/c they are never accurate like you are!
I’m believing the 3-5 snowfall……..just not the accumulating part. I think most of it melts fast because it comes during the peak hours of solar heating.
Or will it change? It “feels” warm out there. I wouldn’t mind a bunch of rain to wash away all the salt and gravel dust
1/2 inch in DC and it’s now raining and 37. WSW dropped in lieu of a WWA.
Down to 34 in Old Southwest Roanoke. Moderate rain falling.
Ain’t gonna happen folks..too warm….cold front won’t be strong enough to push the warm out of the valley….just rain..move along!
Rick you could be right especially on pavement. The midday/afternoon arrival isn’t optimum for accumulations. I’ve been amazed in the past though how quickly a 33-degree wet snow starts sticking if it falls hard enough. Intensity will be the key — and elevation.
Zach, I don’t buy that doughnut hole because from radar trends we’re clearly going to get at least .25 from rain alone, not even considering whatever snow may fall later. This is a pretty juicy system. The reason some models were cranking out big snows a few days ago is they were taking ALL of this moisture and making snow out of it.
This moisture on the whole — as rain or snow — is very beneficial right now.
I wish it were cold enough for snow because it’s raining really hard here in Redwood near SML. My thermo’s say 35 degrees.
About an inch in Western ffx county more to the north less to the south and east of d.c. Local mets calling for 4-8 inches of course it varies but that is the average call. Some call for a bit more none for less. Kevin does this sound about right? They say especially more to the north and west of town where it will be colder. The excitement is settling in!
It’s a beautiful foggy morning here in Roanoke near the Coffee Pot! Have no idea of the temperature, but it feels a bit too warm for snow. On the down side, the birds are singing and my headache is gone – neither bode well for snow. On the up side, the rain that is coming down is what I call ‘thick’ – could turn to freezing/sleet/sneet – or even snow! Kevin: how warm can it be and we still get snow?
Do you have a Twitter or Facebook for this blog? It’d be so much easier to access remotely. I’m a snow lover and I can’t *wait* to see the change this afternoon!
33 here in Max Meadows (just East of Wytheville). We are having a pretty decent rain, but there is some “stuff” mixed in as well.
UVA–nice Mike Scott reference in your post last night. I’m hoping for at least 5 inches here… if we don’t get that, it will definitely be #tragic. Wahoowa!
Where can I find a map that shows the elevation of land in Franklin County?
Thanks again Keven for all of your efforts.
Less than 0.05″ rain so far with current temp of 33.4 F at 2500ft. in Sinking Creek, Craig Co. I can see rain and fog about 1 mile away. We’ll take any moisture we can get.
Sorry for the typo Kevin – not enough coffee yet.
37 deg and raining steady in Dublin. Just heard a light rumble of thunder!
Won’t heavy precip cool things down quicker?
Kevin, Brandon, and Capt. Q.
Really envy you guys knowledge of interpreting the NAM, GFS, and EURO models.If I can hang with you guys, I’ll keep learning. I’m a 55-year old Army-VET Surveyor who’s always been a weather nut. Got my degree in civil eng.tech. by using a hand-held calculator; drafting by hand with ink on mylar, and pulling a 200-foot steel tape. Now we’re using transit data recorders, Autocad, Elec. Distance Measuring Devices, and GPS. Look how far we’ve come. Really enjoy this blog info.
Ashlee,
What location on the Henry/Patrick border are you? I’m at the intersection of Microfilm Rd. and Elf Trail at 1400 ft.
I just don’t see there being any snow. It seems like temperatures are holding steady.
oh well maybe next time!
The sky sure is pure white with rain falling heavily off Windy Gap in Hardy. Don’t know the temp. When I looked outside, the porch rail looked like it had some sleet.
…with Franklin Co schools closed, my High School Senior is happy. And she waits to see what the latter part of the day brings.
Snow mixing with rain now at 33 degrees here in SE Wythe County where I work.
LARGE snowflakes here in Woodlawn,actually making ground start to turn white on grassy areas! Still 34 but bet it is starting to drop. Pouring snow here
I have my doubts about much accumulating snow for Roanoke but I did see this NWS observation of lightning at Boone with snow. http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/KTNB.html
Roanoke County schools are letting out 3 hours early already, my daughters bus driver told me that at 7:20 this morning. The temp dropped from 37 to 36 on my way into work this morning in the city.
Just started snowing where I work in Carroll. Steady with pretty big flakes. Sticking to grassy surfaces and vehicles already. Coming down pretty hard.
Some light, to moderate blustery rain moving into Christiansburg.
Just switched to big wet snowflakes at my location in Carroll County. Elevation 2,694 near KHLX.
And I too am glad that there is rain rather than a complete bust on moisture. Of course, as a snow lover I haven’t folded yet, since there is much day ahead…and all the hopes of the TWLS.
Mostly rain in the Cave spring area of Roanoke so far but did see a few stray flakes and pellets of ice hit the windshield on my drive to work this morning about 8:30am. Temp on the car thermometer dropped from 37 to 34 in just my five minute drive to my office near Tanglewood. Wonder if the changeover is starting?
All of this rain is making me uneasy.
Coming into Radford at just before 9am, it started lightly raining for a few short minutes. It was quickly followed by a pretty heavy downpour of sleet.
I live in central Botetourt, it’s 37 degrees now and raining steadily, when do you think this rain going to change to snow change to snow? How much do you think we’ll get here?
sorry, typo, I said “change to snow” twice
Just talked to parents in beckley WV and during phone call there rain turned to heavy sleet so maybe the cold air is coming south. 34 now in goodview with a frozen mix falling
Cold rain here in Blacksburg right now, but the temperature on my thermometer has dropped to 33 degrees. The wind is also picking up. It’s starting to “feel” like snow…
I am hearing/seeing sleet mixed in with the rain here in the town of Floyd. The bank thermometer was hovering at 32/33 as we drove the kids to the babysitter about 30 minutes ago.
Friend of mine in Radford just reported sleet on my Facebook page.
blacksburg/NRV folks; channel 7 website has downtown blacksburg at 31 deg. Any sign of change over up there?
Sometimes this changeover thing can happen rapidly — nobody has snow, then everybody has it a couple of hours later. It can be like someone is pouring a big pitcher of cold air and snowflakes out of the sky rather than a gradual switch. More reports than I was actually expecting to see after breaking from the blog about an hour ago. It will be interesting to see how quickly it spreads.
My location usually goes to snow before most of Roanoke in a changeover. I’ll keep my eyes open.
50/50 Rain Sleet in C’burg
Hail. Yup, bona fide pea sized hail here in Elliston at 2022 feet. For about two minutes it suddenly appeared and dumped a coating on my deck and then stopped and now we have sleet. 32.8 degrees here now.
Rain is starting to mix with sleet now in Blacksburg. My thermometer is still holding steady at 33 degrees.
Kevin,
When do you think the snow will begin here in Roanoke? What are your predictions – are they the same as yesterday?
bryhyf1: Weatherbug is also showing 31F at their Kent Sq. weather station in downtown B’burg. I’m at work only a couple of blocks away from there, and I’m not seeing any changeover yet.
New River Community College sent out a text alert at 9:19 that they are closing the Dublin and Christiansburg campuses at 9:15 “due to inclement weather.” That tallies with the reports of sleet in Radford – looks like the changeover is coming earlier than the administration anticipated.
Okay, had to chime in. This is weird.
Woke up to 34 and change this morning and saw the expected lowering.
But now, the thermo is stopped dead at 33.6 and not budging for well over the last hour or so.
It almost feels like a mile-long freight train waiting for the track to clear. And then…************
Rain with a heavy dose of sleet mixing in here in Christiansburg. Temps right around 32 degrees.
Just changed to snow here at the Lonesome Pine Airport here in Wise. Rained a lot last night…guess the cold air has finally started to reach the surface.
I think we see at least sleet/snow mix in Roanoke by 11:30 a.m.
Snow is now mixing in (C’burg)
webcam at Grayson Highlands State Park:
http://graysonfriends.org/pages/ww.html
The suspense is killing me! Looks like its still all rain here in Narz, though I’m not sticking my head out to see for sure. Surrounding mountain tops are in the clouds, so I can’t tell if they’re getting snow or ice yet.
Temp is dropping fast Weather bug at the Salem Civic Center now shows 34 just an hour ago it was 36. Anytime now Kevin peopel at work are looking at me like I’m crazy with the snow talk.
9:30 AM – just switched over to sleet from rain on Sandyridge in western Roanoke County
Now sleeting here in Blacskburg!
Sleeting really hard here in Prices Fork/Blacksburg
Still rain here on the Roanoke Valley floor. Gonna take a quick drive up Mill Mountain. Will report if the snow is making its way down.
We now have a sudden onslaught of sleet here in downtown B’burg.
Is it just me, or does it seem like the storm is gaining speed?
Willis, Eleven miles WSW of the traffic light in Floyd, elevation 2800 ft., rain has begun changing – roof of car and deck are icing up.
Rain/sleet mix in Glenvar now. Not sure what the temp is.
Apparently pretty icy in Franklin County already. Augusta county is reporting icy roads as well. 35 in Daleville, nothing falling at all.
Rain/Sleet mix where Im at in Salem
Rain and snow mix and 33 in southern Wythe County but it’s getting white on the bare ground, grass and our black parking lot. The ground must be a lot colder than I thought. It could easily accumulate if it would get with it.
Would you consider that on time, ahead, or behind on the switch over?
Blacksburg – rain is “making noise” when it hits the windows, and bouncing when it hits the ground. That ain’t rain, folks.
Temp has dropped from 34 to 32 within the last hour in Hillsville. Big fat wet flakes fell around 9 a.m. but what little accumulation we got quickly melted. Now the snow is trying to start up again….been getting brief flurries of those big fast snowflakes every now and then.
Fast? Haha…meant FAT.
It’s snowing in Bluefield (VA & WV).
The rain has changed to ice pellets in downtown Blacksburg. Let the fun begin.
Oh boy did it just start POURING down snow here along Alum Ridge in Floyd. Changed instantaneously from sleet to snow @ 9:43 a.m.
Kevin: The storm seams to be divided……one chunk here in the Virginias and another over New Jersey. Explain?
Looking outside right now, solid mix of sleet and freezing rain. If this doesn’t change over to snow within the next few hours, I might begin to worry about an ice storm.
Rain has quickly changed to mix precip on snow/sleet here in north blacksburg…and its coming down heavy!!
All snow in Wythe Co. (Max Meadows) for the last 30 minutes now.
36 degrees downtown roanoke… sigh.
Heavy amounts of sleet are falling here in Blacksburg. Luckily the temps are staying above freezing.
9:50am, .25″ of rain and 36 degrees at 950′ elv here in Hardy. Getting more skeptical by the hour.
Ken in Hardy
Rick:
The new Jersey Precip is what moved through last night. This is on the warm side, what we call Warm Air Advection, side of the storm.
The moisture of us, and what will be bringing us our snow, is what we call an Upper Level low, trailing behind the main piece of energy.
It almost looks like we have some southeasterly upslope going on along the blue ridge.
Rain turned to sleet to snow in the last 30 minutes
co-worker out in Roanoke city, calls in and says sleet is coming down where she is
If you’re 36 degrees and it’s already sleeting/snowing just 1,000 feet above your elevation, you shouldn’t be too skeptical at this point.
Rick: Surface low off the coast, upper low inland. The 2 aren’t phasing well at this point.
Zach: We’re a bit ahead of schedule on the changeover.
mix is starting to change over to snow in Radford.
Kind of funny to see the ATVs out around the municipal building…not sure what they are plowing…grass maybe?
Train is rollin! 33.4 Penn Forest.
Sleet/snow rain mix/burst around lewis gale hospital 15 minutes ago
Just switched over to steady sleet in the Town of Floyd.
Changed to snow here in Floyd and the entire road is now covered instantly. Coming down pretty good. If this takes hold, maybe we will see a few inches after all.
It’s raining mixed with sleet in downtown Roanoke. I can hear a few pellets bouncing off my window. The wind is also picking up. It’s getting colder. Come on, snow!!
States trucks are now plowing and putting down chemicals between Blacksburg and Newport at a steady pace. Like every five/ten minutes.
Looking very good for a nice size snow.
I am told I must be at work tonight or else!!What do you think driving conditions will be about 9PM tonight
Mostly snow now here in Pulaski
Now sleet. Penn Forest. Changing QUICKLY. Still 33.4
Rain just changed over to heavy snow here in the town of Floyd. Seems to be piling up fast on the parking lot! I’m headed home!
Looks like its sleeting here in Narrows now. There’s some white showing up on the grass and the road looks a little slushy. Keeping up the snow dance here…
Still hovering at 36F in NW Roanoke County with steady rain… elevation is 1112ft
It just started to change over to snow at Shelor Motor Mile in C’burg. Large flakes – Oh wait – it went back to rain. Wow that was quick.
37 degrees in downtown now… it’s getting warmer… what the heck.
Sleet is mixing in heavily in SW Roanoke County (221&419).
Light rain here near Callaway in Franklin County. Why doesn’t Roanoke.com show Franklin county schools as being closed, since they are? TV news has had it listed since early this morning. This is a reoccuring problem at Roanoke.com
POURING DOWN RAIN IN DOWNTOWN ROANOKE!!!!
A heavy mix of rain and sleet has been falling in Boones Mill for the past few minutes. The sleet has covered my deck. Letting up a bit right now. Waiting for the temps to fall some more and the snow to start.
switchover from decent rain shower to moderate snow here in downtown christiansburg in the last 5 minutes… already whitening tops of cars and unused pavement…
No more rain here in the town of Floyd — we have a mix of sleet and snow that has coated rooftops, grass, sidewalk, and driveway in just the past few minutes. This is not fluffy snow at all, it looks thick and is dropping quickly.
Heavy sleet/rain at 10:04 on Franklin Road in Old Southwest Roanoke.
It’s sleeting at the library on 419 now. I hope my son’s school dismisses early – I’m not looking forward to the drive back to Fincastle.
What a waste. Rain is pouring down in Roanoke City. If this was snow…
Still sleeting here in Blacksburg. 34 degrees.
Snow in Blacksburg on south main!
Ah ha – no sooner did I write that and my skylight got quiet – and the first wet flakes here in Bburg.
It is snowing in downtown Bburg!!!!!!
It is now snowing here in Radford…Starting to stick on stuff.
All snow now in C’burg (near exit 109)
Moderate rain with very little sleet in Raleigh Court area in SW Roanoke City. Temp is 34.1.
First big wet snow flakes starting to fall in Blacksburg. The temp at my house is still steady at 33 degrees.
Snow/sleet/rain mix in downtown B’burg now. I’m starting to see some slight whitening on grassy areas, nothing on pavement yet.
Started sleeting heavily about 9:30am, sleet completely covered my gravel road, now has changed to big wet snowflakes. Near Fairlawn. Temp 35.
sleet coming down hard in NW Roanoke County
Long time follower – first time poster.
10:08 in Blacksburg – rain/sleet changed to snow. Lots of snow.
Snowing real good along I-77 at mm 44.5, just North of Wytheville. Looking at traffic cam as I type.
Snow mixing in in Blacksburg now, after a heavy burst of sleet.
Heavy rain near tangle wood mall. No sleet or snow mix yet
C’mon Roanoke snow… I need a good snow so I can take some ridiculous photos of my infant daughter ‘playing’ in the snow to post on the blog.. eating it… laying helplessly in it while we stand there and oo and ahh over her. Whatever works.
Seriously though… I also need a good reason to go home and get back into bed.
Do you think the snow will stick in the city/downtown area at all?
Big fat flakes at MM 160, BRP in Floyd County, 2600 ft.
Sleet is mixing with rain in Ironto. Bring on the snow!
Am I seeing a more northerly trajectory for the upper low or will the pivot actually occur for the burst anticpated east (Appomattox, Buckingham, etc.)
Hey Wes – you live up on the ridge near the winery? Ex AD?
Freezing Rain here on Airport Road near Northside High School
Out here at Bennet Springs, I went out about 1/2 hour ago to get the paper and almost slipped on the gravels that never get any sunlight. Just went by the window (10:10am) and it was a steady rain. Very low cloud deck, can’t see McAfee Knob or Fort Lewis Mountain tops like I usually can.
CHUNKS of snow falling at the airport in Wise…at least an 1″ in diameter and some are MUCH larger. Ground will be white in 30 minutes at this rate. Airport reports a temp of 35.
It just started sleeting heavily in Blue Ridge. My kids are really hoping it will change to snow!
Okay, so moments later, it’s snowing in Ironto!!
36 Degrees and mist here in CHO. NE winds have picked up to 14. Looking forward to seeing the cold air come in from the South??
32.7 Penn Forest. Back to rain.
Big Flakes falling in Prices Fork/Blacksburg.
Now a mix of sleet in downtown Roanoke…
Changed to all snow in north end of Blacksburg. Covering the ground quickly.
Buckets of rain pouring in Hardy off Windy Gap. If that is how the snow will fall…oh my!!
Still ice pellets and sleet here in Check, VA, elev. around 2500. !!!
It just started raining heavy here in Botetourt
HA! Never mind…..snow it is now!
heavy sleet and rain near tanglewood area
Big bouncing pellets just about big enough to call hail up here on our mountain in Elliston, though a friend just down below me on 460 says it’s raining and a bit of sleet down there.
And I see that the traffic cams for MM116/118 on I81 is showing snow and it’s sticking.
Just received word from my son that Faith Christian School on Buck Mountain Rd. in Roanoke is closing at 11am. They must feel confident about the snow.
It is now an official winter wonderland on Gap mountain. Looks like a huge snow globe…..Bring it on!!!
I have to say, I’m starting to wonder if we’ll ever get snow out of this storm, but I trust you Kevin.
Sleet starting to mis with rain in Salem. What will road conditions be, does anyone think, by about 9PM tonight when I leave for work?
Temperatures are now dropping quickly in Roanoke! From 37 to 35 in 15 minutes or so.
Kevin and other now casters: What do you make of recent radar trends. Looks to me like precip is shrinking/moving to the NE? Could this be an energy “jump” that robs precip from NRV and ROA areas?
Temp has dropped to 32 degrees here in Bburg. The birdbath which had open water an hour ago has iced over. We’re getting on and off again bursts of light to moderate snow. Big quarter and half dollar size flakes.
Big flakes coming down fast in downtown Blacksburg, already starting to cover the ground. Yippee!
Pearisburg getting Huge flakes now and starting to cover 460!
Sleeting here in downtown Roanoke. I believe it keeps switching back and forth from rain to sleet. My coworkers don’t believe we’ll be getting snow since it’s so warm out. I still have my hopes up!
Rain switched to heavy wet snow at 10:15 at my location in Shawsville.
still rain in southern botetourt…
Kevin can you give me any clue as to wether you think this thing will hold up for lynchburg?
Sleet pellets are getting bigger in Boones Mill.. still mixing with quite a bit of rain. Probably 50/50, but POURING down!! If all the rain drops were snow flakes ~ oh what a snow this would be!!
Main roads in Fairlawn are slushy,Cars off the road on Rt 114 also a bad wreck in front of Motor Mile Speedway on Rt 11
All Sleet. Penn Forest. 32.5
small and very wet snow flakes beginning to mix in with the sleet/rain mix here in the Glenvar/Dixie Caverns area (exit 132) @ 33.1 degrees at 10:28….
I’m seriously bummed out
35.4 next to the Parkway in the Metropolis of Vinton with rain and no sleet yet. The wind has changed direction to NE now though.
Ice is just starting to mix with the rain in Martinsville.
Sleeting here in SW County and is starting to stick! Come on change over to snow!!!
Kevin, heavy sleet past hour with temp of 33 at 1500 feet in South Roanoke
Just went for a walk in Roanoke–it’s pouring rain. The rain feels and sounds like it’s just starting to turn over to sleet, though pavements are just wet–not slick yet. Water on the hoods and windshields of some cars is turning to ice. (Presumably those cars where this is not happening have been run recently and have enough left over engine heat to keep the water from freezing.)
Heavy sleet in West Salem.
Heavy downpour and you can now see the white. Not snowing yet, but you can see the sleet mixing with some snow flurries in Salem
Glad I did, just started a snow/sleet mix
It’s official snow flakes getting bigger now with sleet/snow mix at 32.7 degrees in Glenvar/Dixie Caverns area at about 1500′ elevation. As I speak, it picked up in intensity to a heavy snow/sleet.
Glenvar area…10:30 am, heavy sleet, random large snowflakes
UGH!!! Raining hard in Goodview and the temp keeps going up! Was steady at 34.5 all morning until the last batch of rain..now 34.9
Mixed snow, sleet, rain in Salem(heavy)
Sleet in 24012 Roanoke City. Just started seconds ago.
back to all rain in NW Roanoke County…. the warm and cold air is really fighting each other over Roanoke, hope the cold air throws the knockout punch soon
Snow, wind in Blacksburg and it’s sticking to the ground, but not the pavement…yet.
Rain changing to sleet in Rocky Mount, saw a few flakes mixing in…waiting patiently for my snow
Just a little note, POURING sleet in West Salem/Wildwood Rd area right now.
Heavy rain here in Daleville, if only it was colder
Its a mix falling here in rocky mount va
Heavy slush as I wait for my kids at Back Creek Elem. Icy roads as well. I don’t think they salted 221.
Just got a phone call from my wife, reporting that I-81/US460 around exit 118 is VERY sketchy with multiple cars off the road. Be careful out there!
It is POURING snow on Cotton Hill Road off 221 at the bottom of Bent Mountain! Just sticking to grassy surfaces…Ro Co is dismissing 3 hours early, hope they get those kiddies home safely!
still rain here in Bonsack
Still just very heavy rain in Eagle Rock. We’re at about 800 ft. elevation.
Heavy mix of sleet and snow in SW county!
Big snow flakes in SW Rke Co right now.
Snowing near Tanglewood!!!
Heard the IEMBOT alarm, saw the “Rapidly deteriorating road conditions” (but mesonet not answering) and looked out the window to see a rain/snow mixture here in Bennett Springs (10:45).
Check the VDOT traffic cameras…you can see the snow in Wytheville and Christiansburg…
Appears to be heavy sleet in Garden City, maybe a bit of snow mixed in, 10:40 a.m.
heavy sleet/snow/rain right now in Salem, by Lewis Gale Hospital
Now the sleet is coming down in buckets!
Rain, Sleet, Rain, Sleet, Rain, Sleet, Rain, Sleet, thats all I believe its going to do in the Roanoke area. Just not going to get the cold air in here to turn to snow. I think if and when its cold to switch to all snow the moisture is going to be all used up and we may see a dusting on the grass and thats it. Just my thoughts
….in Hardy off Windy Gap.
snow and sleet coming down in NW Roanoke County
When will it start to stick?
It needs to get cold so this snow can stick. It just switched to snow in the Hollins area.
looks like it’s clearing in Pulaski, more on the way Kevin?
BIG snowflakes in Salem now!!!!!!
Rain, sleet, snow mix at Ridgewood Farm in Salem. If I look closely I might see some of Sammy Oakey’s projectile vomit. LOL!!! Just a try at a little bit of humor at Sam’s expense. He is a good man.
Mostly snow, now.
Heavy rain/sleet in SW Roanoke City. Snowflakes mixed in for just a few minutes. Temp is 32.7.
Heavy sleet at Cave Spring High School! Significant accumulation on road and grass… you can feel the excitement building inside of the school!
In Galax @ 2700ft, Mix since 8am, in the last 15 min. visibility 1/2 mile heavy snow, 33 degrees, snow sticking to all surfaces.
Side roads in Bburg and Cburg are slushy and slick. Build up of ice and snow on windshield on 460.
How long is this storm supposed to last?..because it isn’t getting any colder. If it lasted through the night then the snow would accumulate.
All snow in Salem
Rain is starting to turn to sleet here in the Smith Mountain Lake area (Franklin County side near Westlake).
Mostly snow off Peters Creek Rd in Roanoke County
now it’s trying to do something out there, but 34* in Pulaski
The radar is showing bands of precipitation, with good moisture flowing in off the Atlantic.
Sleet in Daleville. Starting to get a tad irritated at wasting all this moisture…
Sleet has stopped. Just plain old cold rain in Boones Mill now.
Heavy sleet goodview near lake
sleet in NW Roanoke City, showing up on grassy areas and “slushy” looking on the sidewalks
Ground is white and parking lot is slushy where I’m at, 2 miles south of Roanoke City. Moderate snow with large clumpy snow falling now. I think it’ll get down more into the bottom of the Roanoke Valley soon.
Keep in mind folks — the falling snow causes the temperature to drop, the temperature at the surface is responding to falling precipitation, not the other way around. So don’t get too hung up on a few tenths or a degree or wo. Every precip band that comes through — even if it doesn’t snow on you — gets the snow layer that much closer.
Heavy sleet now in Vinton 35 degrees
Looks like Bland Co. is going to get the lionshare of the snow fall. We haven’t had a drop here in C’burg for nearly 45 minutes.
Snow in Roanoke City just in time for the heavy band to pass through. Bah Humbug. Thundersnow later?
Finally we have actual snow here in Elliston as of about 10 minutes ago.
Heavy rain sleet snow Bonsack going back and forth to rain
Can’t get a good read on temp here (thermometer on front porch which has NEVER EVER seen the sunlight). Just went out to rescue my ice scraper from the car … very, very wet icy mess covering car and gravel driveway already.
…and 10 minutes later, it’s now sleet and big white flakes in Eagle Rock.
Heavy snow now in Narz with a dusting on the ground. Main road is slushy. There’s a flock of robins hiding under an overhang probably wondering why in the world they migrated back so early.
Actually appeared to be clearing up in Hillsville about 45 minutes ago but now it’s started snowing big old wet snowflakes again! Temp is still holding at 32 but the wind is starting to pick up a little bit.
I’m seeing some flakes mixing in from my 8th floor window in downtown Roanoke, but still no signs of anything sticking here.
The snow started out very lightly here in Bluefield but it took less than an hour for it to switch over to all snow and A LOT OF IT. The roads are completely covered and conditions are quickly deteriorating according to my husband who is on 460 headed back through the tunnel to Virginia. I would say it won’t be long for the changeover to occur area-wide. BE CAREFUL.
Arrggghh. My 9:42am post ended up in the previous thread despite reloading blog page to get to what I thought was current thread.
Update: temp is definitely heading upward- now at 36.7 degrees – despite heavy hail-like sleet and heavy wet snowfall earlier. I can see obvious melting everywhere and I am at almost 2800 feet. Not making sense as I thought temps would be heading downward along with the heavy stuff coming down. Nothing coming down now.
It’s 37 in Buchanan and quite abit of sleet and hsil. Wish we were seeing snow!
Snowing hard in Blacksburg, but from looking at the radar looks like there is a dry slot developing to the south?
Anyone in Craig / New Castle? Folks here curious about conditions thereabouts.
Kevin, whats the record number of entries for a thread? This one has got to be getting close.
Wow that was a quick changeover from rain/mix to snow …
At Meadows of Dan in Patrick Co. near the Parkway, we have had intermittent rain,some sleet and very few wet, wet snowflakes at 2700 ft. Temp 33 degrees.
Dang it…. just after I posted that last comment, it quit snowing!
And it looks like it is clearing up. I could almost swear I can see some blue skies peeking thru the clouds here in Hillsville.
Quick shot of sleet here in southern Botetourt. Still rain when it tapers off.
Kevin again, do you think it will hold together for lynchburg?
Snow/sleet mix falling at a good rate here in New Castle. Was all sleet about 45 minutes ago.
HUGE snowflakes falling in NW Roanoke City now where I work. Can see a slush accumulation on the sidewalks
Still just light rain in Bedford. Radar shows a heavier band moving in.
Sleet and snow mix starting to stick on Sugarloaf Mountain in SW County. Grounds turning white already.
It’s snowing downtown Roanoke!!
It started snowing around 10:00AM in Smyth County and we have about an inch to an inch and a half here at 11. Snowing hard and the roads are white and slick.
Wet snow pouring down as of now in North Roanoke…Not sticking but it looks nice..Lots of traffic outside the window so the roads are staying warm with friction.
Ice pellets falling in Rockbridge County at 11:00 a.m.
Snowing on and off at the C_burg mall. We had .22″ rain overnite. Doesn’t look like snowy weather to me. Some melting on warm surfaces.
Nothing going on in Blacksburg / Christiansburg anymore…BOO.
Back to a fine rain in Check. Hoping more will arrive….snow that is.
Snowing heavily in the Bonsack area at around 1100′. Made the tansition from rain to sleet to snow in the last 15 minutes. The ground is quickly getting white.
looks like we are going to get dry slotted…imagine that…hope I’m wrong
Its snowish here Roanoke Salem border. Looks like a heavy rain vs Snow right now, but part of the group is getting white.
Penn Forest. Big wet snowflakes. Sleet is waning. 32.2 (I guess my thermo is pretty accurate.)
Was just out driving in it. Everything is sticking like a paper napkin to a greasy chicken. The 1/8″ of slush isn’t helping matters.
BE CAREFUL Everybody!
The HUGE snowflakes are falling here in New Castle now. They’re starting to stick to the grass.
Finally! We have a moderate snowfall here in Daleville!
Delicious heavy ran about 30 minutes ago, now a steady mix of rain, sleet and tiny snow flakes. Very tiny snow flakes, in downtown Roanoke. Not seeing any accumulation on roads here yet. Mom called from Grandin Road and said her driveway is covered in ice …
It was nice while it lasted. Looks like a dry slot is forming for Roanoke and points east.
Looks like the southern NRV is going to get stuck in the dry slot……..again.
Brandon – not true. It is rotating around, you’ll be fine
Here’s a pic from Galax.
http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/231112799.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1296059419&Signature=GYy8kQPiCAyky7nex0z33gvpTIU%3D
Good snow in Daleville. And you be quiet about that dry slot, Brandon!
Galax, 1/4 mile visibilty heavy snow, still 33 degrees, accumulating fast all surfaces!!!
Slaiwing now or whatever the word is for rain, sleet and snow all at once. Looks like mostly rain in this current mix. My gut is that I won’t need to plow our road with this storm. And just after typing this, huge snowflakes are now coming down like a giant hand above is scattering them like chicken scratch. Only thing I have seen yet is freezing rain, well, that and a heatwave.
Dry slot over B’burg right now. Radar doesn’t look encouraging, if I’m reading it right – one, maybe two more waves, then a big, wide dry slot and another wave that may or may not hit us.
Kevin, am I on the right track, or is there something this amateur isn’t seeing?
Snowing to beat the band in Blacksburg about 40 minutes ago. Now it’s nothing. Radar shows a big hole overhead with more coming from Wytheville.
guess Robin R on 7 was right after all a couple days ago calling for a no big deal for the Roanoke area. Thats the usual story around here…what could have been but was not. signing off on this one
NEW POST UP IN WHICH I DISCUSS THE “DRY SLOT” AND THE LOW PIVOTING
Hey Brandon…NWS disagrees with you…special weather statement just put out:
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1043 AM EST WED JAN 26 2011
NCZ003-019-VAZ032>035-045>047-261800-
SURRY-WILKES-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-
BUCKINGHAM-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…DOBSON…WILKESBORO…STUART…
ROCKY MOUNT…BEDFORD…AMHERST…LYNCHBURG…APPOMATTOX
1043 AM EST WED JAN 26 2011
…RAPIDLY DETERIORATING ROAD CONDITIONS EXPECTED BY EARLY AFTERNOON…
RAIN…OR MIXED RAIN AND SLEET…IS EXPECTED TO CHANGE OVER TO
ALL SNOW AND INTENSIFY OVER THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT FOR THE
REST OF THE MORNING INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS. SNOWFALL RATES
DURING THE AFTERNOON MAY INCREASE TO ONE TO TWO INCHES PER HOUR
AT TIMES…RESULTING IN RAPID ACCUMULATION OF SNOW ON ROAD
SURFACES. HAZARDOUS TRAVEL IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER THE AREA AS
THE AFTERNOON PROGRESSES. IN ADDITION…WEIGHT LOADING OF WET SNOW
ON TREE LIMBS AND POWER LINES…COMBINING WITH INCREASING WINDS
MAY RESULT IN SOME SOME DOWNED TREES AND TREE LIMBS…CAUSING
SPOTTY POWER OUTAGES.
TRAVEL THROUGH THE AREA IS DISCOURAGED THIS AFTERNOON. WINTER
STORM WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE AREA.
$$
Some big snowflakes mixing with light rain in downtown Roanoke. Yeah, it pains me to type these words.
That dry slot shouldn’t last for long. The radar should start filling in from SW to NE shortly as the upper low moves east out of the mountains of Southwest NC near Asheville. In fact on radar you can already see this process beginning to happen in the Western Piedmont of NC.
Now snowing in Abingdon after an hour or so of mix. No accumulation currently but word from home in northeastern part of the county is that the pastures are white. Not sure how much we will get but I am sure it will be sloppy this pm.
You know the snow is sticky when you have to wipe off your satellite dish to regain your TV signal. 2nd time I’ve had to do this in 11+ years. Snowing very hard here in Smyth.
FAIRLAWN (adjacent to Radford)- Snow falling steadily, moderate amount. It started as a very impressive initial heavy burst of big wet flakes.
Is it just me or does it look to be filling in here in roanoke. DT is still calling for 6-12 in. could it be
Here in Craig Co. north of New Castle the ground is covered w/snow with slush underneath. Light snow continuing to fall.
Sleet/Rain mixture right now in CHO. 37 at the airport.
Here in Sweet Chalybeate/ Sweet Springs it began at 11:00 a.m with heavy, very large flakes and covered ground in 10-15 minutes. The white pines are very lovely. It has continued since in a very steady fine snow and we have two inches upon the ground. All things are covered with white.