Snowy Friday: Snow tapering by 3 p.m., flurries into evening
UPDATE 1:15 PM: It appears the heaviest snow is likely to end in the Roanoke and New River valleys by 3 p.m., with some flurries or patchy freezing drizzle continuing into the evening. Snow amounts of 1/2 to 2 inches are being reported so far, so the 1-3 inch expectations appear to be well on track. END UPDATE
UPDATE 11:45 AM: It appears that a heavier patch of snow is moving through much of the New River Valley and will spread into the Roanoke Valley during the lunch hour. The snow rate will pick up such that any roads not already covered may become white fairly quickly. Accumulations totaling 1-3 inches with some heavier amounts are still expected. END UPDATE
UPDATE 10:15 AM: Snow is now rapidly overspreading the New River Valley, and appears likely to begin in the Roanoke area by 11 a.m., roughly an hour ahead of the moved-up times I listed below. Expect roads to deteriorate rapidly. Some sleet may occur at the outset of the snow in some locations. END UPDATE
UPDATE 8:30 AM: Moved up start times of snow by 1 hour. Snow by 11 a.m. in New River Valley and by noon in Roanoke Valley. That is “by” not “at” so possibly a little earlier. END UPDATE
Radar is picking up echoes, some heavy, in central/eastern Tennessee and Kentucky, even edging into far southwest Virginia, as of just before 7 a.m. That’s not what you’re seeing at left — the inset image is what the NAM forecast model “thinks” the radar will look like about 1 p.m. today. Everything appears to be on track for a quick burst of snow — 3 hours or so of moderate, even heavy for a brief spell — that will likely accumulate 1-3 inches widely (not necessarily every single point) across Southwest Virginia and perhaps more in some heavier bands. The showery looking echoes in Tennessee and Kentucky are expected to become more solid in coverage, but there may still be some “mesoscale banding” or regions of more intense snow that, in some cases, may align west/east and move over the same location for an hour or two. That’s what could boost some local snow totals above forecasts. The moisture will be hitting very dry Arctic air as it heads eastward, so you may see an hour or two of radar echoes over your head before you see snowflakes, especially at lower elevations.
Approximate start time is spreading over the region west of Interstate 77 by 10 a.m. (already has begun in far southwest corner of the state), as far east as the New River Valley (Blacksburg/Chrsitiansburg/Radford/Pulaski) by 11 a.m. and into the Roanoke Valley by noon (I say “by” not “at” because it’s more likely to be a bit earlier rather than much later.) With the consistently cold weather we’ve had the last several days, snow will accumulate on untreated roads very quickly, and so slick conditions will develop rapidly even with minor amounts of snow. As we’ve noted, it will be a fluffy snow that is unlikely to cause large-scale power outages, as the Jan. 17 heavy wet snow did.
From here, it’s a radar-watching and waiting game.
January 25, 2013 - 7:04 AM
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Should have noted above that some light snow and possibly light freezing drizzle will linger into the evening, intermittently. Upslope-enhanced snow will develop along-west of I-77 and near Virginia-West Virginia border this evening, also, to enhance snow totals from daytime burst.
Did not think the radar would look like this after being so lackluster last night. Snow lovers, we may yet win the day.
Checking radar now — I’m a bit concerned about this getting going faster than the times I have noted above.
DC, give me a heads up when you spy the first flakes since I’ll be next in line. Heard the ole woodstove hollering for mercy this AM. I’m sure it ain’t the only one that’s been beggin.
Seems like a common occurrence with these overrunning systems Kevin. Why is that?
Sleet is already reaching the surface in western North Carolina, east of the mountains, so dry air is not hindering precipitation much down there.
Kevin, what is the concern about it going faster? That it starts sooner and people are not prepared properly or that it lasts longer? Radar is looking a bit better than it did earlier. I’m still skeptical, so we shall see.
My concern is that the arrival times for start of precipitation may be earlier than what I wrote above. 1-2 hours earlier. I did at least say “by” rather than “at.”
I will update to move them up if it becomes obvious they’re badly off, 2 hours or more.
8 am report from Dopplerville – Temps up to 14 now, with a slight breeze out of the south/southeast. Humidity is at 48%. It has gotten really cloudy since earlier this morning. Watching radar for that first flake.
Kevin, referring to the previous post, we appreciate you so much! I don’t post often but enjoy checking in and seeing what’s going on. This is the only blog I regularly check – I love the positive, community feel of it. Looking forward to watching the “nowcasting”, thanks again!
Don’t have a good reason, Brandon, but it seems to be a consistent feature on the models that anytime there is moisture overrunning a cooler air mass, the precipitation advances a little bit faster than modeled. With rain systems in warmer seasons, you can sometimes count on 3-6 hours ahead of schedule for rain in overrunning setup. This may be 1-2 hours ahead of schedule.
I checked the AppState webcam and they were hit with some snow but it appears to have stopped
http://cams.appstate.edu/sanford-mall.
So here in Montgomery County we can begin to see flakes falling by 11-noon?
Nothing here yet. Freezing rain about 60 miles west of me.
So are we guessing approx. 11:00 am, snow in Roanoke?
It was 20 degrees this morning, up from 14. Considering that when I went to sleep (and it was late) the Radar was pretty well blank, it looks comparatively robust at the moment.
Just saw a few snowflakes on way to work in Woodlawn. When is this supposed to start for real?
And now we’re getting a little sleet falling in Woodlawn….
Sunny and plesant here in Big Pine Key, Fl. Wish I could send it to you.
No paul, no!! Some of us WANT snow! (I’m a poet and kind of know it)
I haven’t moved my times up yet. Might be about an hour earlier on start of nitty-gritty snow (not early random flakes), so maybe 11 a.m. NRV and noon Roanoke. Will adjust in copy above if that becomes more obvious
Always wise to allow 1-2 hours margin on precipitation start times, they’re very fluid (pardon the pun).
There’s a few flakes coming down here in Willis. Current temp is 15.
It is snowing medium hard here in Marion at 20 degrees.
Kevin–do you still think 1-3 inches for Roanoke is in the cards?
OK, how much did you Teachers (and School Employees) Who Love Snow pay to the Roanoke City decision-makers to close schools today??!! LOL I guess Nurse Snow woke up, found out that there is no school today, awakened her neighborhood with her shouts of glee, then went back to sleep. Lullaby, and good night ….. :>) Congratulations, TWLSers!!
Is it possible that Rick in his 1 AM comment was teasing you, Kevin, and forgot/chose not to put in a :>) or LOL?? Otherwise, I simply do not understand why he was so upset with you.
I think at least an inch is likely in Roanoke today, Sam.
I like Paul’s nowcasting from Florida…..
Snow flurries here in at work Woodlawn! (I’m 4 miles West of Hillsville)
I did nudge it up an hour, saying by 11 a.m. NRV and by noon Roanoke Valley.
15 degrees at my house this morning cloudy now hope we get some snow and no ice
NWS graphical Forecast has snow starting by 10am and going through 7pm (albeit lightly)
http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/midatlantic.php?element=Wx
I would have thought Marion would have been hit harder than this : http://www.collinshouseinn.com/WebCam/webcam.html
If the heavy blob in central Kentucky near Somerset stays together, that could be a pretty intense snow burst moving right down the US 460 corridor through Blacksburg and Roanoke during the early to mid afternoon. Will be keeping an eye on that.
Thank you for voluntarily hosting this informative yet good spirited community for those of us who enjoy these weather related topics. I have learned a great deal from so many who contribute and I appreciate the dedication to the many long hours and late nights. Now to my question. Is there a temperature too low for snow to fall?
Light snow in Galax,alraedy a dusting on the road…
Wow…the snow flurries are getting more and more intense here in Woodlawn. We’re making bets here on when it actually turns into snow!
Really appreciate your weather insight. Hope we get at least 4 inches.
Sleet and tiny snowflakes are coming steadily now on our farm southwest of Floyd (elevation 2851′). Today should be much easier on all the snow watchers as this little storm is booking along lol.
Henry – you made my day with the App State web cam! Being an alum of there, I got the best laugh. My dorm used to be right there in that grassy area! I even slipped and fell one winter on the sidewalk in the lower right corner of the picture. Thanks for the memories!
No snow here in the Chapel but we have sleet. Looks like this will end up being an icing event for us instead of snow. Cold air just not holding on high up. Work is opening late and will have to go in at 10 unless they change their minds.
It’s 9:07am in Pulaski (near town limits) and we are already seeing flurries! I’m leaving for gas/milk now….
Sleeting hatd here
Seeing a few flakes here in Dublin. Man it’s cold!!
An employee of mine who lives in Bassett said his wife just called him and it’s snowing moderately there. Radar shows that it should be light, or even virga, so maybe virga and evaporation won’t play as much of a role as once thought. Maybe that will up our totals a bit.
Hi Kevin,
I was hoping you could provide some insight on what you think travel conditions will be like on I81 from Roanoke to Washington, DC. I can’t find a solid prediction anywhere.
THANKS! Love your blog posts.
Kevin, with respect to the lighter amount of precip forecasted from what looks to be North of Lynchburg up to this area and back towards WV, is that due to the moisture heading almost due East and plowing into the mountain ranges to our West?
They are forecasting less than 1″ of snow here but that is a half inch more than what they forecasted a couple nights ago and we picked up 3″. I figure we’ll get between 3-6.
It is definitely cold here. Its still 17 degrees on the porch. The air is extremely dry though. I need to hook a garden hose to our humidifier.
Didn’t expect to see so many sleet reports. Interesting.
Just out walking my dog and started to hear “tap, tap, tap” in the woods – looks like it’s starting to “sneet” in Martinsville! 23 degrees here.
NWS is backing off for our area. Less than an inch now expected in Wytheville.
Where that snow/sleet line solidifies will play a big role in accumulations. Some places will see sleet at the outset but turn over to mostly or all snow as any small pockets of warmth aloft cool. But other places may end up to the south of that line and see mostly sleet and less total accumulation.
Makes sense why Michael Hoback is seeing sleet even though he’s below freezing. Critical thickness shows some warming in the upper atmosphere pushing into far SW Virginia.
http://i.imgur.com/xBwY4EN.png
NWS has also reduced amounts for us:
“Snow likely before noon, then snow and sleet. High near 25. South wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible.”
Oh well.
John-Rville: Partly that zone is because of the mountains (dry air banking to east, and later downsloping westerly winds drying the moisture out) and partly due to that region sorta being between the two pieces of energy.
Christian: Later today there will be intermittent snow on the route between DC and Roanoke with some mostly light accumulations.
Nothing coming down right now in Woodlawn.
Spitting snow here in C’burg
Should we be more concerned in Ranoke with freezing rain or with snow?
12Z NAM showing Bedford getting less than all areas west or east again. Probably should just watch radar now anyway.
A few light snow flakes just started falling from the sky – currently 17, humidity 47% up here at FCX Dopplerville.
Don’t see much freezing rain risk for Roanoke. Maybe some sleet mix. Maybe. The snow/sleet line (talking about where it stays sleet, not where it begins with a little sleet) won’t make a lot of progress north from wherever it sets up during the day. NWS has it sort of Bluefield to Wytheville to Martinsville or so.
Tonight there may be some patchy freezing drizzle for a while.
Light blowing snow just started here in Narrows. It seems to be more of the horizontal variety than vertical just yet.
I had to be up here in Charleston, WV for work. I drove up last night to avoid this and make sure I am on time for my 11am appointment. It is snowing and sleeping here. After I finish business here, I drive home to Salem. Kevin, I am not asking for advice on whether I should drive. How rough do you think it is going to be 64/77/460/81/home?
There will be plenty of snow along all of those routes very soon, David. Depends on road clearing.
Getting a rotation of sleet and snow here now. There is about an inch on the roads. Slicker than goose poop on the highways. It alternates between a little sleet falling to snowing hard and then back again.
Just heard from my friend in Bluefied, VA. Snowing.
A “tickle” of snow has been falling in Riner/Floyd and appears to be picking up gradually. 19.2 degrees. The birds are pleased that I replenished their birdseed.
Fine snow falling in Radford
I have been a “blurker” here for quite a while. Kevin is my weathermeister and friends and family rely on what I learn here. Started sneeting a few minutes after 9 here. Roads have a white blowing coating. Kevin, THANK YOU for your dedication to this blog it means a lot to more people than you know.
Wow! The road here and the sidewalks are white! Light snow coming down right now.
Snow’s been coming down here at a pretty good clip for half an hour or so.
There are a few random flakes coming down in Blacksburg, now. “Spitting” snow, but very lightly.
Now we’re getting light, but steady falling snow grains
Snowing steadily now in Pulaski. Temp 19 degrees on the north side of town.
Snow has been coming down heavily since about 9:30. It was quite gusty just before the snowfall started kicking in. Up to 15 degrees.
Snowing hard now in Wytheville.Started ot as sleet and freezing drizzle.Roads are already very slick. Just talked to a customer in Big Stone Gap and they are iced in.
10am start time spot on here in cburg
Moderate snow in radford
Snow just started coming down in decent amounts in downtown B’burg just over the last 2-3 minutes. Very light flakes, occasionally blowing upward.
Looking at the radar it looks like a good blob of moisture headed my way. Lets hope the mountains in Patrick Co. does not break it up too bad. Parking lots already white here. Bring on the snow!!!
Flurries just started just east of Bburg
Remember that if you get a moment today where you can, report your precipitation type to NOAA for a major research project called PING (Precipiation Identification Near the Ground), linked below:
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/projects/ping/
Snow picking up in intensity here near the town of Floyd. What small patches of bare ground are now white again. Given the forecast, I’m surprised by the vigor of the snowfall.
We have nearly 1/2″ here in southern Wythe County where I work. There’s a lot of little snow pellets………or whatever they are called, mixing in.
Flurries in southeast Roanoke
Decent snow in Blacksburg… 2-3″ probably across the NRV judging on current radar trends
Just did my PING.
Alright snowcasters, are you getting excited as we see this radar. Higher or lower potential than you expected?
Sleeting at my home (2980′)
on Bent Mountain. C’ mon snow!
Here it comes, ready or not.
Tiny but persistent snowflakes “raining” down on us up here just now. Temp is 15. A few larger flakes mixing in…
Snowing pretty hard in Martinsville now.
Well, that was quick- it’s changed over to mostly snow.
Off to refill the birdfeeders before it gets too deep, ha!
Moderate snowfall rate in between Rocky Mount and Callaway. Began at 10:30.
flurries have just begun here, the mountains near bent mountain are starting to become enshrouded in the snow cloud.
Started quickly outside my window south of Roanoke (1400 feet) about 5 minutes ago.
Flurries in SW Rke Cty off 220
Flurries in Raleigh Court.
Flurries in Mount Pleasant Jan 25, 2013 10:40am
Starting to see some flurries in Salem. 24 degrees on my porch!
The snow has started here as well on the east side of Rocky Mount:-)
Near 220, far-South Roanoke, uphill from the “Outback” at 1425-feet…
A FEW small, fluffy, floating scattered flakes observed in the past 10 minutes!
VERY COLD! WHOA, look out Winter…and good night, Nurse!
A few snowflakes dancing around in Troutville. I wouldn’t even call them flurries yet.
Mountains are barely visible right now, flakes have gotten just a bit larger and a bit more intense. Will now classify it as light snow.
The town of Floyd is covered in white and it is already slick and dangerous.
Just cloudy here. Schools have closed early though in anticipation of a long weekend.
From Muscle Shoals Ala to Eastern Ky
some pretty good radar returns..
ROA looks to get a bit more till around 3-4pm ish..
The thicker moisture in Tenn is tending to slide more easterly.
I think itll end pretty quickly before dark..
In the morning may make for a a pretty start..light winds..
could be a good photo day..
Enjoy yall.
Snowing lightly near Tanglewood. Looks like a burst of snow from that area moving thru
Kentucky in an hour or so but most of the precip looks like it
Will go thru NC unless it moves north.
Got some snow flurries in downtown Roanoke.
Light snow started at 10:30 here in SW County. These are the small flakes, like was expected. It’s been slowly picking up in intensity.
Snowing hard in Charleston, WV
Snow coming down at a decent clip now, seems to be a bit of light sleet mixing in currently.
The roads are already starting to cover up here. Rich, I think you will do well with this one as I hope I do as well. Definitely a snow lover here.
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
I have been told that it is snowing with some big flakes in Goodview. Here at work in No Roanoke Co I saw some light snow a few minutes ago.
Snow hole in Galax!! snowed briefly for a dusting,now on radar it looks dim for us. Moisture staying north and south of us it looks like…
Just did some running around this AM. Started flurrying while I was at Lakeside Shopping Center in East Salem at 10:35. It is flurrying now (no, not lonely snowflakes, but real flurries) here, and coming almost straight down. So much for my theory of virga! If radar is accurate, and if the empty slot doesn’t fill in, it looks like there will be a lull (probably short in time) by noon.
Snowing pretty hard here just east of Rocky Mount. Has been for 30 minutes now. Very high ratio blowing snow.
Snow has just about stopped and light sleet has begun. The sun was briefly peeking through the clouds a short while ago. Noticed forecast for my area has been downgraded to “around an inch” with half an inch possible tonight but like Radford last night, yet all around me the forecast is for 1-2 inches during the day.
Snowing harder in downtown Roanoke
whoops, bad sentence structure on my last comment – lose the “yet” for better reading.
Snowing hard now on 24 in Moneta.
Brian it just started snowing at the M.I.G., here in Goodview. The mountains to the north are disappearing from view. Hoping for no ‘snow hole’ this time.
Clark you’ll get another burst here soon. Check the Jackson kentucky radar
Most of the moisture is going into NC. This has been expected. Still a decent patch of moderate-heavy snow working down the 460 corridor between Bluefield and Blacksburg.
Just got home from Shawsville, was snowing pretty good up there and the parking lots were getting white. Just started “sneeting” here…very dry snow pellets that bounce! I has turned to mostly snow now, but I still hear some sneet falling. Grass is getting very lightly covered. Not falling very heavy right now. I doubt we will get a large accumulation because I just went out and bought a new pair of winter boots. =P
So much for the sudden flurries. Has practically stopped for the moment. Now it is lonely snowflakes, and very tiny ones, too.
Sudden change to sleet in P’ville AND the temps have dropped to 18 degrees. Sushi for lunch is starting to look like a no-go. Roads are covered and even treated roads are slick.
Near 220, far-South Roanoke, uphill from the “Outback” at 1425-feet…
Snowing steadily and lightly, mostly small flakes w/a few medium-sized.
Nice hexagonal/dendritic crystal structure observed in some. A dusting on the
ground so far.
Wow, that’s an intense amount of moisture working into NE Tennessee…
Light snow has started here where I work in Thaxton which is 5 miles west of Bedford.
Now just a few flurries falling in Thaxton.
Just now seeing my first flakes in Bedford City. Maybe WE will get some snow this time!
Looks to me all the moisture down into Tennessee is moving almost due east..
What do you think road conditions will be around 9pm driving on 220 towards Clearbrook?
Roads covered and about 1 1/2 inches on Brush Mtn in Blacksburg. Still coming down briskly.
*Doug G as well as everyone, my snow-predicting cat has not been active at all for this event just as she was not active for the last “snow” during which we were in the now famous “snow hole” or “warm bubble” and got virtually no snow. Perhaps we will not get any snow out of this event either. We are East of Vinton next to William Byrd H.S. We had about 15 minutes of heavy flurries for about 15 minutes and then a break but now it is snowing very lightly. We are hoping for a good snow but understand that clipper systems have scant amounts of moisture in them. And of course there is KittyGirl who is “taking off” for this event. Still I say Let it snow!
Unless this keeps up all day or gets heavier I can’t even see 1″ accumulating here. Solid urfaces like the deck are solid white but this is so fine it is going to take a lot to accumulate on grassy surfaces. Unfortunately the roads are going to get very slick.
**surfaces
Started about 30 min ago intermittently. Now snowing very lightly but steadily. A few larger flakes mixed in.
Snow coming down at a pretty good clip here by the Pete Dye Golf Course. Starting to accumulate on the deck. Maybe 1/4″ of white stuff covering the sleet at this point.
tinker mt disappeared for a while about 11am, but now back in view. Very bright skies compared to last one which was very dark. Now seems to have switched to a very fine snow. traffic on 81 and 11 still moving normally for moment.
It is snowing in downtown Roanoke. Not heavy, but steady. Bring it on!
Light snow again here in Thaxton.
The roads are covered in front of my house. Kevin, I noticed that the NWS has us with a chance of freezing rain on Sunday night also when I was checking their radar. Thought that was interesting. First I had seen of that.
Nary a snow flake has fallen on the Chapel today. All sleet and freezing rain and it has been fairly heavily in the last hour. The road is a solid white with sleet and freezing rain coating also. Temps have stayed at 22-23 all morning with little movement. I simply do not care for ice but was hoping for several inches of snow. Guess we will see what the next storm brings after the warm spell.
Snow began here about 11, quite steady now. They’re letting my husband off work early (last week’s storm made it take him 3 hours to make a 30-minute drive!), so yay!! I would be happy if we got more than expected. The kids are already anticipating sledding on our neighbor’s hill!!
Thank you for the work you do. We really appreciate both the forecasts and the nowcasting!!
Looks like a heavier band may be moving into Roanoke. Maybe it will make it to Bedford.
Winter Weather Advisory just expanded to include Lynchburg.
Roads have been snow-covered here for the last hour or so. It happened pretty quickly once the snow started falling vertically. Guess they didn’t get this far with the salt yesterday.
Snowflakes are dancing in Hot Springs! They vary from teeny to tiny, and started to accumulate within 15 minutes of starting—but then, it was just 15 degrees or so. Snow sports lovers were on the roads coming up last night. This morning The Homestead was running its shuttles from the hotel to the ski area with plenty of passengers. It’s very cool to see the plumes of steam from the natural warm springs here between the flakes.
All sleet but steady. 18.6 degrees
Ok…it is really coming down now! Still fairly fine but not as fine as before. The grass MIGHT get covered if this keeps up. But I’m not getting my hopes up.
The snow is coming down now, but the flakes are very small
Will that heavier band of snow moving through nrv and roanoke, make it to lynchburg?
Anyone underneath this heavy band of snow/sleet or whatever is falling? Radar return is up to 51 dBz on that band. Perhaps the radar is picking up on some larger flakes or sleet aloft..
http://prntscr.com/qdhix
Lynchburg and surrounding counties belatedly added to the Weather Advisory. Light snow and 23 now in Lynchburg
WOW!!! I’m getting HUGE flakes now. My 9yr old daughter says “Now THAT’s what I’m talking about” LOL
Really pelting down here. Jefferson St. Downtown Roanoke. Sidewalks are getting covered.
Got an inch at Rowe Furniture in Elliston. Coming down hard and fast but very fine looking snow.
Steady snow and 21.3 in Goodview. Roads are completely covered in our area.
Near 220, far-South Roanoke, uphill from the “Outback” at 1425-feet…
Now snowing at a “medium” rate following two hours of fairly light snowfall.
Small and a few medium flakes; nearing one-half inch on ground. Some hexagonal
crystal structure in some flakes; otherwise the “flakes” consist of
somewhat bashed-mashed-and-battered FORMER crystals. HI-HO SILVER…AWAAaaayyy!
It’s a shame that the system isn’t moving NE.
I know what you’re getting at Nate .. but if it were moving northeast, that warm air advection would also get dragged northeast, and a lot more of the area would go to the ice and sleet Michael Hoback is dealing with.
any guess as to what time this will stop in roanoke?
I think the heaviest stuff is done by 3 p.m. Lighter snow, even some freezing drizzle, may occur intermittently into the evening.
Ugh, 15º with heavy sleet now. Getting foggy too, a little bit of everything so far in Carroll.
Ken in Marion (and others down that way, including Michael H), thanks very much for your noon update. This ol’ guy is frankly amazed that it can be sleeting with a surface temp of 18*. I bet the side roads down in Smyth and Washingt. Counties (and maybe Wythe, Grayson, and Carroll also?) are getting really bad.
The NWS put us back in the 1-3 range after backing off earlier.
Not sure how much has fallen in C’burg but I’m sitting here in the office. A few of us decided to wait it out(since management hasn’t told us we could go home yet) and hope the roads are better off than they are right now. Someone just did a 360 in front of our office.
Kevin could you answer my question on whether you think the heavier band will make it to lynchburg? And ate we positioned good right now?
Just got home from CRC in Blacksburg. Snow still falling rapidly and making the roads very very slick. Saw a few cars spin off the road on the way home on Franklin. I would say its actually more slick than last weeks snow, be very careful everybody.
It’s coming DOWN in SW Giles Co. 460W coming from Va Tech was bad. No sign of a plow on Hwy 42. At least 1.5″ – funny, it seems deeper on the road.
Radar has got dark blue over us, but nothing is falling! Is that the dry air killing the precipitation?
I think Lynchburg will get some pretty decent snow for a time this afternoon. The heavier bands are kinda becoming lighter and shifting a bit south after crossing the Blue Ridge.
Snow is heaviest it’s been all day at my house south of Roanoke now.
Puttin it down now. Looks like about 3/4″. Can’t make its mind up which direction it wants to come from tho.
Right at about 3/4″ on the deck railing here (fairly close to the house) maybe a bit more out further in the open. Still coming down at a pretty good clip. Large flakes for the last 15-20 minutes. Looks like someone is having a pillow fight!! Maybe my pessimism paid off?
It really is a gorgeous snow.
I have about 1/4 inch on my driveway and front walk. Definitely snow now, but the flakes are still tiny. Can still see the top half of the grass, which is not long. But one of my neighbors couldn’t make it up the steep hill in his/her subcompact, so is parked in front of our house. I bet the driver did not know to put the car in low gear and give it gas steadily to get up a head of steam. But our street is brutally tough in snow …. not only steep but also very curvy. 23*.
At the rate and for how long that the snow is falling, we had about 1.5 or maybe even two inches by now 8 days ago. Big diff in the size of flakes, I guess.
I know it has more to do with warm air aloft,but I can’t remember it EVER being 15* and sleeting as hard as it did here in Galax a short time ago!! Now back to a light snow and sleet mix…
snow coming down harder in Thaxton now. Traffic still moving good on 460, but the snow is sticking to the roads.
Pouring sleet here at 21*, go figure??
Heavy snow falling now and the flakes are huge.
TRAVEL ADVICE OR INFORMATION NEEDED. Safety Tim or wd, are you out there? Apologies for interrupting the nowcasting. But I plan to head south quite early tomorrow morning (7:30?), and would prefer to go I-81 to Fort Chiswell, then south on I-77 and down from Fancy Gap. But I will go US 220 through Franklin and Henry counties if the long downhill on I-77 from Fancy Gap is icy at all.
I’ll second LoJo’s comment (#168). The roads in B’burg/C’burg got bad *fast*, and this stuff is really slick. Be very, very careful.
Started snowing here in Verona (just north of Staunton) about 5 minutes ago. With some wind. As in other places, anything that falls is going to stick. Calling for 1-2 inches here.
We had teens and sleet in much of Southwest Virginia during President’s Day Storm II in 2003, while most of northern Virginia was getting 2-3 feet of snow. But it isn’t usually the case.
FCX Doppler 1 pm Report – have gone from barely seeing the snow to looking like we are in snow globe then back to very tiny flakes and now to moderate snow. All the bare spots are covered with about an inch of snow.
Kudos to the school systems who closed before the day even started. Good call!
19 here and the humidity is 62%. The black cows in the field across the road have white backs.
If you live in Callaway and haven’t left work in Roanoke yet, don’t come down Bethlehem Road unless you have 4 wheel drive (or skis:)…
I guess we will call this storm “Kat2″.
I think my comment from this morning got lost, I was referring to schools closing for a little bit of snow. I live on a rather steep road, like most of the roads in SW county, and with just an inch of snow it requires 4wd or chains to get up it. Typically, if I leave work when it starts snowing by the time I get home I can not make it up in my car. That was the case today, had to walk up. I will have to walk back down and put chains on to get the car home.
Snowing medium hard with medium flakes @19 degrees
Around 11:45 I was 500 yards behind a car that ended up flipping on 81 south at mile marker 96.4. It was a mess. I’d advise not going out.
The Weather Channel has named this little storm “Khan”. Doug G should be amused!
at 1:15 2.4 miles ENE of Blacksburg: 1.25″, .11″ water equiv 11.4 ratio.
Mr. Griggs, I made a comment several times leading up to the start of the snow that it wouldn’t take jack for the roads to get worse than they have in the past several years. We’re dealing with a couple of things we simply ain’t used to. Temp is cold now and temps have been cold for several days. 1″ today will be worse than the 6″ last week cause it will pack and turn to ice. Nothing but chloride and gravels will get it off. Salt will be useless and do more damage than good til the temps climb above 25*. In defense of VDOT, I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many roads brined as this morning, and you could certainly tell where and which ones. Looked like all major primarys and Interstates got it. To answer your question, I wouldn’t plan on going anywhere in the AM short of an emergency. The top will get knocked off but whats already packed can’t be plowed. Nothing but chemicals, gravel, warmer temps and sunshine will help. If I had to go it would be I-81. That wil receive the most attention way before the others. And all this is simply my assessment of the matter.
Doug here’s a link to a shot of I-77 taken @ 1:15 at Mile Maker 16.9 Southbound.
http://screencast.com/t/d8vRQeNC
Now for the possible deflating news for those of you who want higher snow totals. I have been watching radar and have it on a loop that lasts almost an hour. The western edge of the snow has moved an awful long way since 12:20. It was covering all of Mercer County in southern WV, and now has cleared out of not only that county but has just about cleared Giles County, also. Unless the snow starts heading on a track that is at least a little bit north of due east, this baby will be ending in the Roanoke valley within about 2 hours.
Snowing hard in South Salem, looks like around an inch and a half. Some roads becoming challenging.
Side roads and everything else here in Washington Co are terrible. The precip seems to be tapering off some but to further insult us with this storm, it is now mixing with snow. At least I can say that we had snow on our inch of sleet.
Doppler Carol your comment made me smile. Monday is Kats birthday. She would have LOVED this. I think it’s appropriate that she was born in January.
.
Virginia Tech closed at 1:15. Of course they notify everyone at 1:25 but most of my office jumped ship earlier. I’m going to be old and say, when I went to school here, this kind of snow would not have closed school.
Someone said the brine that VT and Town of Hokieburg laid down last night is not working, probably because the temperature is 18 degrees here!
Never seen this happen before, but maybe I just never noticed it.
“Confirmed: UPS Freight in Bristol shutting down for the day due to icy road conditions. All extended run drivers told to turn around and come back to the docks. – SF09″
I remember that President’s Day sleet storm well. The piles of sleet and snow didn’t fully melt from my apartment complex until April.
Already stopped in Verona. Cloud ceiling somewhat high again.
It should have been a no brainer to close all the schools. Can you imagine the mess they would have if they hadn’t let out here by 9 AM? I’ve seen them send out businesses and hold roll call on the bus and turn them around to go back home. Totally kills the working parent. Plus they need to burn some days to keep their opening date. They made one of the few wise decisions that they aren’t particularly known for. Salem even closed and they are a seperate country within the USA.
Looking at the radar at 1:30, the heavy snow is about finished in Pulaski Co.
light steady snow so far in SW roanoke. Measured around 0.8 inches. Looking at the radar, expecting another .1-.2 inches before it’s all said and done.
Wdbrand great advice(comment 191) the roads here in Franklin County are horrible and 220 is no better. It has been snowing here since about 11am and has been coming down pretty hard.
Tapering off here and we are down to the fine stuff falling again with a few larger flakes mixed in. Looks like not quite 2″. A wee bit disappointing but not a bust at least.
So much for this storm! Just another bust for us here in Greene. Guess attention has to be turned to next Friday. DT says it could be a monster! LoL Once again it looks to go south of our part of Virginia! Guess couple inches will be it for this winter also.
wd, thanks for the info about road conditions. And from the voice of many years of valuable experience, too. I wonder if there is any website I could look at about 6 AM that will provide info on that. Virginia 511?
Take back that last comment….seems it was just a lull! Coming down hard with large flakes again!
Just measured 0.5″ here just north of the Bedford city limits.
Doug, the radar might say the snow has cleared Giles, but let me tell you definitively that, at least at the moment, it is still snowing in Giles! It’s much finer than it was though. The roads are snow covered and the mountains are still obscured by the snow. We’ve probably got an inch or so on the ground.
Snow has all but come to a stop. I can still see the grass- for me, at least, this seems like a bust.
Take a look at radar, folks in Montgomery County and the Roanoke valley. This storm is either falling apart rapidly in most of these areas, or will be doing so soon. Still snowing here at a decent clip, but I bet it ends by 2:30 or very shortly thereafter.
I hope that all of you and your loved ones are able to reach their destinations OK today.
Jared, you got the clipper and we didnt..quit whining.
Sincerely,
A Giles Resident and former Golf teammate.
And I can still see the tops of my grass blades. I cannot remember the last time I saw it snow for 3 hours and accumulate so little.
About to taper off. About 2 inches in Pembroke.
up to between .9-1 inch measurements now. As i was measuring i got a heavy burst of snow over me. This is definitely the final wave of snow coming down southeast between blacksburg and lewisburg. Snow is pretty intense though. I’d give it another .2.3 at this rate, we’ll see.
Jared, you and I commented within a minute of each other. Don’t look at the radar within a 100-mile radius of you …. your doctor advises against it!! Just kidding, guy. And congratulations on controlling your justified frustration.
Seems to be coming and going in waves right now. Reverts back to fine stuff, then will start falling a bit more with larger flakes so and and so forth. Coming down pretty good right now. Maybe the last hurrah?! Looks like we are at the tail end of it. I’ll check in when it is all said and done.
Probably your best bet Doug G
2.5″ My part of Blacksburg
The effects of mighty Winter Storm “Khan” are now being felt in the immediate DC metro. Light snow and 25* with a skiff of snow on the ground.
Mr. Griggs, there’s cam up and down I-81, if they’re working. I’ve found a call to the district office to be more reliable. Good luck on getting thru tho.
The sleet and back end snow has ended here at the Chapel. We now have a light freezing drizzle and temp has risen to 24. Went our and fed and split some more wood. Went up the road to a neighbors to retrieve some coal. Roads a solid inch of sleet with a crust of freezing rain on top. There is enough crunch you can drive on it.
Pertaining to next weekend. The Johnson City Weather Man did say this am that next Thursday or Friday the high temp would be back down to 23. Winter is not over folks.
Very light snizzle at 2:30, stopped by 2:40.
Looks like we’re done in Pulaski, with a little over an inch on the snow board. It hasn’t topped 20 degrees all day (19 now) and I’m wondering from whence this balmy 29 that the NWS has predicted will come. Roads are still treacherous.
Will road conditions be worse tonight after the sun goes down. Wondering about work
Wow, just took a broadened look at radar, and nearly every bit of snow west of the Blue Ridge and south of I-64 in Virginia has ended.
That’s it folks. Just under 5 hours of snow produced 2″ in Blacksburg. I’ve about had it with these 5 hour “snow storms”. Is it too much to ask to have it snow for at least 12 hours? Really longing for a good slow snow storm. Maybe the Feb. 4-6 storm will be in that category?
Anyone for star gazing say around 7:30 – 8 p.m. skies should be clearing and precep moved out….not exactly the snow most of us wanted…oh well..
there’s always next winter….
Temps up to 20 and really tiny flakes. There was some sleet mixed in earlier. Radar shows we are nearing the end. Looks like we got 1 to 2 inches.
Snow changed to sleet and freezing rain about noon in Martinsville – roads are solid ice. Seems to be ending now.
snow moving into DC area…Reagan down in low vis
with snow..many flights not getting in…below minimums..
Well, it pretty much did what it was supposed to, folks. Except the warm air advection was farther north and there was more sleet/ice in counties nearer North Carolina, but late GFS model runs actually showed that.
Got about an inch where I’m at in Downtown Roanoke. I’ve been out driving in this mess all day.
Not a bust 2 miles N of Pulaski. NWS said 1-3 inches and we got about 2.
It is so light that I cleaned my sidewalks and cars with a backpack leaf blower.
From Larry Cosgrove -”A surge of Arctic air with a full latitude trough will approach on Tuesday. A wave of low pressure forming on this boundary may set off heavy rain and thunderstorms. Later next week this feature could turn into a big snow, ice and wind machine over parts of the Mid-South and Appalachia, with the bitter cold air streaking southward from Canada.”
Look for temps to stay steady or even rise during the overnight hours. Fred’s at Beech Mtn (elev. 5,028′) is already up to 32!
Thanks very much for addressing your comment at 2:23 PM to me, hkiewa. But what exactly is my best bet? Going on I-77, or looking at Virginia 511 site (which I did, and it looks informative, if one can trust it …).
Ended up with about 1.05-1.1 inches, with very thin flurries coming down at a light/slow pace, and it’s about ended by now. So that makes it between 6-6.5 inches of snow for roanoke in the last 8 days? Not bad.
There are two definitions of “bust” — as it relates to snow:
(1) A snowfall that falls short of forecast amounts.
(2) A snowfall that falls short of hoped-for amounts.
When snow lovers talk about a “bust,” many often mean definition 2 rather than definition 1, though the two often happen at the same time. In this case, it was more 2 than 1 (except in some of the locations that got more wintry mix than snow).
Meg, thanks for your comment!! That settles it … I am not going via US 220 if the roads your way (Martinsville) are solid ice. I’ll creep down I-77 from Fancy Gap to the NC border in low gear if I have to.
Hey Doug,in my experience,if you leaving that early in the am,stay away from 77 southbound down Fancy Gap!! Until it gets a little warmer and the sun is out a while you could get stuck there for a looong time! We are heading down to lake Norman to check on the boat tomorrow,but won’t leave until after noon,so i’m not worried then. If ya have to leave that early,I’d take 52 south from Hillsville to Mount Airy,then connect over to 77 from 74…be safe!
I ended up with about 2 inches here in SW Roanoke County. The roads are completely covered and I still have some very fine looking “snizzle” as Doug calls it.
I gonna do the Aztec thing tomorrow. I gonna sacrifice a snowman to that big firey ball that comes up in the east.
So DT and Cosgrove now touting a big storm for Friday 2/1? Maybe it will last all of 8 hours……….
Lightly snowing now and the landscape is simply awesome! Roads are moderately covered with about 2-2.5″ snow.
Depending on where you measure around my house, you’ll get anywhere between 2 and 3 inches, so this forecast was really spot on (even though I was hoping that it would eek out closer to 5.
Judging by how bad the roads are in town, this might as well been 8. These cold, dry snows really make for bad road conditions.
It stopped for awhile at almost exactly 3:00 pm. Now, it’s snowing lightly with maybe 10% larger flakes mixed in. Our total so far is about 1 inch, perhaps a bit more. Good call, Kevin, and as a long time lurker, many thanks for all you do.
I don’t consider it a bust. We got a good light blanket here. Just getting another burst of snow. But I am with BB Mike…I’d love to see one of those 12 hour snowstorms! I remember 09-10 with find memories while many cursed it.
another .6″ since 1:30 for a total of 1.85″ total water equiv .16. Roughly 12:1. 2.4 miles ENE of Blacksburg. Settled snow measuring at 1.75″
Well, spoke to soon! Back to big flakes coming down here now.
Still snowing up in Fincastle with maybe 1.5-2 inches at 22-degrees. I guess that will translate at the Roanoke Regional Airport a trace of snow and 34-degrees…hahaha!! It is a very fine, p
Thanks, Clark friend!! I will do that … unless I get a chance to talk to a state trooper and he assures me that I-77 southbound is OK.
Scott: 1.2 is official Roanoke snowfall. Measured at WDBJ, not Roanoke Regional (though it’s very close anyway).
Another snow shower moving through downtown Roanoke now.
Had about 1.5 or so in south Roanoke County before I drove to the office. All roads had some snow on them, but side roads were worse.
I just shoveled, and it is extremely light snow in weight, as advertised. Yay. I only have one inch, measured in several spots. Interesting that Shanon and I have two differing amounts, yet we live close together.
guess that little blob of snow that was northeast of us decided to push through, i thought it was over, then all of a sudden, woosh, another burst of snow, getting lighter though after about 5-10mins of this, looks like it will end in about 5 minutes.
Where did these light flakes come from? It was flurrying while I was shoveling. Guess this stuff was too small or light to show up on radar.
And special TYVMs to Doppler Carol for getting the Doppler Radar back in working order. I put it to good use this PM.
Kevin…was just being facetious. You know how I’ve always joked about that bowl in the valley(from WDBJ to RRA) that is to have the warmest temps and least snowfall amounts in the valley! It can be 12 here, like one morning on the atomic clock/thermometer and the RRA has a low of 19. Just one of many, many examples.
I measured 0.7″ of snow just north of Bedford city.
Mr. Griggs and anybody else that has travel plans can look here for most road conditions.
http://www2.wsls.com/news/2013/jan/18/15/friday-road-conditions-updates-ar-2475335/
WSET measured 0.8″ of snow about an hour ago according to Sean Sublette’s facebook page. WSET measures snowfall for Lynchburg’s official total just like WDBJ does for Roanoke.
Donnie: How are the roads in Bedford? I’m supposed to drive in for work tonight. Just want to get an idea of what to expect.
Everything has pretty much stopped here. I took my snowblower and removed 1.5″ of sleet from my 300′ driveway before it froze together.
Ended up with about what WDBJ7 official measurements had, 1.1 on the driveway and 1.2 inches on the patio.
Not knowin what I’m talkin about ain’t unusual for me, but after everybody got past the model hype 5/7 days ago and then 36/24 hrs. ago, the forecast looked to me like it was rite accurate, taken area wide. Course, some folks will complain about their mothers milk.
Brandon, I haven’t been out in a couple of hours, but I am hearing that 460 is ok coming into town.
Temps are now at 21 and the snow has stopped. Ah a leaf blower! I used that once to clear the snow from the driveway once. It worked really well. Good idea to clear before this stuff compacts.
Doug – no problem with “fixin’” the Doppler! LOL!
Looks like you earned your paycheck today Kevin. Maybe they’ll keep you on for another month.
Snow has ended in Lynchburg, all that remains is very light flurries.
My hubby is driving home from WV again tonight. He said so far that 460 from Princeton to Blacksburg has been 1 lane cleared only.
Light drizzle in Blacksburg. That’s not good.
Doppler Carol,
It is definitely leaf blower type of snow. Not having much other use for it out here, having brought it with me when I moved here, I used the blower this afternoon to clear snow off the grass so I can push the wheelbarrow in from the woodshed. Still chucking that wood like crazy.
1.75 inches on the snowboard for the storm total, cleared it before a brief spell of sleet. Daytime high was 20 and it is down to 14 with calm wind. Found that the roads around here are in fair condition at best when I went to Willis Village Mart for…(drumroll please)…
…milk.