Many are going to get 6-12 inches on this snowy Thursday evening
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT RADAR IMAGES: National Weather Service-Blacksburg radar continues to have technical issues and is operating in “degraded mode.” Therefore weather service radar images and the products based on them, such as the Radar / Future Cast on this blog, may not contain an accurate picture of the extent or intensity of precipitation that is falling.
It started as fast and furiously as advertised this afternoon and evening in most of Southwest Virginia, and snow will continue to spread eastward through the Piedmont and Southside in the hours to come. There are already problems developing as power is going out for thousands with heavy wet snow collapsing tree limbs into power lines. Also, of course, many traffic problems — at left is the Second Street Bridge in downtown Roanoke, snow-covered within an hour of the start of moderate to heavy snow. It appears most of Southwest Virginia along and west of the I-81 corridor is headed for widespread 6-12 inch amounts (some have already reached half a foot near the West Virginia line and in the far southwest part of Virginia) with 3-6-inch type amounts to the east. Snow will likely continue for 3-6 more hours in most areas, maybe a bit longer for some, before the surface and upper-level lows pull to the east. With 1-2-inch snowfall rates, that will pile up several more inches. Temperatures will fall into the 20s behind the snow, and so Friday morning’s commute will be treacherous, too. Highs Friday will not get out of the 30s in most locations, so this snow isn’t going to disappear in a day. There is still Arctic air headed southward next week, though it does not at this time appear to be an super-extreme outbreak. We’ll look more into that once we get past this snow.
January 17, 2013 - 5:25 PM
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KM-you mentioned 3-6 hours more of snow. I assume that means ending at 8pm in the west near I-77, and maybe ending at 11pm in the east near U.S. 29. I guess I don’t see it. The radar is almost standing still and everything is appears on radar to be moving at a snails pace. You’re probably right, as you nailed this storm several days ago, but I just can’t buy snow ending in the NRV before 12 midnight.
Always difficult to time these exits — but I’ve seen plenty of these deformation zones just suddenly collapse on radar when the surface/upper low move east. The back edge will be 100 miles away and then the snow will just sort of melt away into bands and disappear. And sometimes it doesn’t make much sense, an band to the west will keep seeing snow for a while after it stops to the east. Most guidance suggests pulling out between 8 and midnight. I left it purposefully vague.
Right now theres a large moisture band being drawn ahead of the low
NE of Asheville…its mixing with band Bristol to Bluefield..
It looks like that clump will enhance the snow a good bit for the next
couple of hours.
NON-Snow comment. Those poor, poor folks in Danville. Justin Ward (of “7″) was in Blairs, just north of Danville, and a creek there has become a river, or perhaps a better word is swamp. Completely overflowed its banks. They were down a colossal 15.5+ inches of rain last year, and I am fairly sure that they also had a deficit in 2011, and now they have flooding. Talk about a classic case of NOT FAIR!!
Felt like a kid at Christmas with no presents under the tree on my drive home today. Once I got to Food Lion in Vinton and eastward…nothing on the ground. Nothing in Bedford Co until I got home…a half inch of white slush.
One thing of note..power was out on Washington Ave from downtown Vinton until you get to the Taco Bell/Shell station.
Can u please explain why western bedford, jordantown, stewartsville etc. Is and continues to be a sort of warm air bubble…. snowing everywhere around this area… we see bursts of snow for a minute or two and changeover to rain to melt for awhile… it makes NO sense!! Seriously, I haven’t seen an inch yet! That is no lie! And I’m 10 minutes from downtown roanoke!
Kevin, snow has stopped in Waynesboro. Are we cashed in? I can’t tell if snow is moving more easterly (south of us) or in a more northeast fashion. Thanks
Okay, I was able to speed read all the comments from lunchtime. Snowing so hard that by the time we get a walkway or the porch cleared off, it is covered again. Lights still flickering but not as much.
I am not sure of the correct way to measure snow but have been taking different readings from the top of 2 picnic tables that sit away from the house. Also taking readings from the benches with them. All were coming out at 2.5 inches at 4:50 pm. I will try to measure later.
Sorry about the Doppler folks. I know they are trying really hard to get it up and running again.
Please just stay home tonight unless you absolutely have to be somewhere.
Kevin, we are just not getting the cold temps at my house near Wm. Byrd HS.
I am watching the local news and it is snowing much harder and sticking much better down in the valley. I have seen our earlier snow turn back into rain and now it is a mix of the two. I suppose the negative tilt puts more cold air at lower elevations?
Kevin, why is the cold air not getting into Greene? Still 35 here while its snowing in Charlottesville and near Richmond. Maybe I am just cursed!!
I could see the deformation zone collapsing on this one, at least for us up here. I’ve got 6 inches @2960 on Poor mountain, but it does seem that the moisture is starting to ‘go somewhere else’. No worries, its beautiful, and has been since 2Pm today. I only feel bad for the folks that have accidents, or can’t get home this eve. Apparently, 221 is closed down with 25 cars wrecked or otherwise. Stay safe out there!
Mike
Somewhere between 5-7″ right now. Still some time to go. Such an impressive storm. I expect to see the rates to slowly collapse from NW – SE throughout the evening.
Heavy Snow continues in Bonsack 1200 , hey Is it possible to have lightening without hearing the thunder in this
We have no transformera near is and power is fine. Just saw three very bright flickers which lit the sky up.
Don’t have a ready explanation, Ricky. I will say some of the short-range models did pick up on a little bubble somewhere near Bedford County/Lynchburg for a bit less snow than farther west. I dismissed it as an insignficant quirk. Maybe it was on to something. In any event, I still think you pick up 3 inches or more before the night is out. There are always mesoscale (very localized) phenomenon in theses banded/deformation zone events that can later snow totals in quirky ways.
Easily 3-4 inches here in downtown Roanoke now. Took a walk around the courthouse. Snow globe village.
With the big quarter- and half-dollar conglomerated flakes, we’re not economizing the snow total. A fluffier, drier snow would add 25 percent to the totals, at least.
Everyone in all directions getting a quicker change over to snow than Bedford. We finally switched over here but we have only a trace of snow so far.
If I measured correct. 9 inches. In Narrows.
5 inches here now. Hey, Jared, want to do a Vulcan Snow Meld? You can have all of my snow and I get all of your nothin’. I have to try to get to work in the early A.M. If Sugar Loaf Mountain Road has not been plowed, it may possibly be Mission Impossible.
I just went out and swept, banged whatever it took to get as much snow as possible off of our nandina bushes and a holly tree and our front yard dogwood. I could hear the trees and bushes saying “Thank you!!” The tree limbs rebounded as much as two feet in the air.
The back edge of the snow has meandered to near the Va-Wva state line.
Looks like Waynesboro might be in for a little more, based on radar.
Finally, snowing heavily in Martinsville, elev. 1080. 33 degrees.
I have 8 inches…….and Doug, can I join the Snow Haters Club again? That was a real strain clearing the driveway with my tiller/blade. I had to do that early so I can move the next deep batch at bedtime, so I can get the car out and go to work at 6:30am IF they clean my street by then.
For those complaining about no snow, you are welcome to come get mine. I left work early thinking I would get home no problems. The traffic was gridlock on 116 and by the time I got to my turn, I couldn’t stop in time. Slid through next stop sign into intersection. Mayfield (in Mt. Pleasant) was impassable and I barely made it home. Took about an hour to go 4 miles. And when I finally got home, I couldn’t get in my driveway, just kept sliding sideways. Nothing would make me happier than for it all to melt away. And it’s still snowing here (in Mt. Pleasant, East Roanoke County).
Greg, I may have just had the opposite happen. The visibility here is very bad, but I just heard a muffled rumble of what I guess is thunder.
Its very very strange!…. Doug….sorry to have “annoyed” you for the evening! Its not like we don’t have to read your 100 posts on every thread and comment to everything! No worries though… I promise I will no longer post, I don’t want to upset you in any way!..Kevin, thanks for the info… I’m not gonna listen to a rant, from somebody that doesn’t like others opinions negative or positive! Doug, instead of telling others to “grow up” and stop with the “complaining” I’m not going to use foul language on here!, why don’t you think about others instead of yourself and only yourself! Bye all! Thanks for all the great info over the years!
The drive home was … interesting. Did not see a single snow plow on the roads, which concerned me. 581 was backed up past Towers Mall and there was a truck in the ditch in front of Shenandoah Life on Brambleton Ave, which was causing an auto ballet. The roads from downtown to Brambleton were passable around 4:30p, but very deep in heavy slush. Some areas were slick. I could not make it up the driveway, which means tomorrow’s commute is going to be ‘interesting’ also. The lights have been flickering since I got home. Despite all this I am so happy to say “IT’S SNOWING!!!!”. Oh yeah. Looks like 3+ inches in the backyard. It is probably deeper than that but I am not going out to measure it. Did I mention that it is SNOWING?
About 9″ here in Narrows and still snowing hard. Have heard lots of transformers blow, lights keep flickering, internet keeps resetting, but so far, so good. Looking at the end of our alley and wondering when we’ll be able to get out: those big snowballs the plows leave are going to be rough going if they freeze.
I don’t think now is the time to discuss this, but I actually do think your comment was a little harsh Doug. While you may not agree with Tyler’s opinion or the way he presented it, there is some validity to his argument. But like I said, that’s a discussion for another time.
7 1/2″ in my back yard in Blacksburg as of 6:30pm. That’s about 1 1/2 inches per hour since it started at 2pm. Don’t recall ever seeing such a fast snowfall. They usually take a couple of hours just to start sticking. Loving it!
Seems to be more rain than snow falling now in Bedford.
11″ in Burke’s Garden, 29 degrees and still snowing.
“Official” deck rail measurement – 5-1/4″
30.6
I saw many flashes of lightning when I was plowing my driveway over the last hour.
ricky, sorry. I remembered too late that you had already mentioned that you are in western Bedford County, not far from Vinton. I was not a bit angry at you when I posted my comment. I hope that you return.
I am happy for everyone getting all this snow that actually want snow. Bedford just isn’t the place to be for this storm so far if you like snow.
I just went out and measured. We have a hair over 7 inches here in C’burg.
Since we got screwed here in Greene, when is our next storm going to tease us? Any indications of storms in the next few weeks or was this our only chance?
You are entitled to your opinion, Brandon. Note that I did not criticize you yesterday when you issued less than complimentary comments about Robin. Because you contribute to this blog. I stand very strongly by my comment at the top of this thread.
Kevin, could this bust in southside? It’s barely any snow in Ridgeway and seems to be mostly rain.
It’s a bizarre localized effect there from just east of Roanoke through Bedford. Unless you can get a heavier band in the next 2-3 hours the back edge of the snow may start working east.
Guys, I’m afraid people are going to be stuck on 220 overnight just like what happened on I-81 in the big Dec 2009 storm. My husband has been sitting still on 220 South just north of Tanglewood for over 2 hours. He says that state troopers are on the shoulder trying to get snow plows through and they can’t get anywhere either. The exit to 419 has been totally blocked too. People have turned their vehicles off and are preparing for the worst.
Doug…you may want to occasionally remember that
you are not the moderator here..
and Ricky has some very valid points.
…Thats the end of my point..
I thought this place was for everyone.
just saw thundersnow lit up the sky 5 inches here
Raining near diamond hill but it gets worse as u get close to moneta
Any idea as to why the snow has completely stopped in C’ville? For the last few hours, there has been little to no snow…barely a dusting on my front lawn. Meanwhile, Richmond of all places is getting hammered. I don’t get it, and suffice to say I’m a bit frustrated.
Amazing that this snow line sw-ne hasnt budged..and that
warm pool over in Bedford County persists..
May make for an interesting pic in the morning..the Peaks of Otter
with green in Forest etc..
Wow,what a great day for comments on this blog.Kevin i bet your exhausted.You are doing a great job!Everyone enjoy the snow down there.Brad in Covington how much snow do you have there?My relatives live in Covington and Clifton Forge.And last but not least Jared i feel your pain,but at least your rain will probaly turn to snow sometime tonight.I have nothing happing here in Marshall,not one flake or raindrop.Oh well my best friend from Golden Colorado is slowly easing my pain tonight.Lol!
Sigh, I have lost limbs in one of my oldest apple trees AGAIN! Poor thing keeps hanging on though! Tried to take pics, but not enough light even with the flash. My hubby was stuck in Daleville on 220 for over 1 hour earlier. He still has not made it home. Measured 4 inches of snow in the back yard when I went out to check on the trees. Also shoveled the front steps and sidewalk. By the time I finished they were already getting covered again LOL. Put down a thin layer of fertilizer in hopes of keeping it from freezing tonight. I wish I could get a picture of these snowflakes! They are at least the size of a quarter, some the size of a half-dollar. Amazing SNOW!!!
Doug: Fair enough. And for the record, I wasn’t criticizing Robin Reed personally. I was criticizing the decision to deviate from the forecast included with the WSW.
Now back to current events. Things have tapered off significantly where I’m at in Downtown Roanoke. Plows have been able to make some progress over the last half hour.
It has been mostly rain in Goodview. What’s up with that? It snowed for 15 minutes and I thought it was the start of something, now NOTHING but a cold rain…Kevin????
Scott Sanders are you happy tonight with your snowstorm?I sure hope so,I`m getting nothing here,except a cold adult bevarage.Lol!
Big time Thundersnow in Central VA.
I have seen this a few times before where there is a sharp cutoff to my east or west but not both directions from the same storm. Lynchburg seems to be doing a lot better than Bedford also.
Looks like a good 8 inches here, South Main area of Blacksburg. Trees are very heavy laden with snow. Power is flickering. Just spoke with my sister and she’s finally made it home to Ironto from Salem. She’s reporting dangerous roads, with many trees down on North Fork Road in the Ironto area (near the Italian Kitchen).
Just measured 7-7.5″ in 4 spots — truck – grill – board – and patio. Still snowing HARD. Would imagine we have about 30- to an hour left maybe we can squeak out another inch or 2. Oh yeah it did not start snowing here in earnest til 3:15. That’s 7 inches in 4.5 hours. WOW.
Just spent about two hours stuck on Wiindy Gap mountain on Rt 116 due to dozens of cars stuck trying to get home in Franklin County. Four wheel drives could manage fine, but everyone in two or front wheel drives……not so good. After getting off the mountain and home in Hardy, was amazed at how little snow we have at the house…maybe 1/2 inch of slush on the porch, compared to the three or four on top,of Windy Gap. Elevation means everything for sure…..at 6:54 it’s 34 and raining with some flakes mixed in. I would advise anyone thinking of traveling 116 to stay home or find another route if you’re not 4×4!
Very interesting the way the storm is panning out. I live in Vinton and it was snowing like crazy on the way home from SW Roanoke County until I got to the Kroger’s. We’ve had some intermittent light to moderate snow the last couple of hours but nothing heavy. Only about half an inch to an inch on the ground. I thought it had just moved on past us until I started reading the snow totals for downtown Roanoke and surrounding areas. I feel cheated. LOL.
Sounds to me like some of you folks in the Bedford area ended up in some kind of quirky screw zone.
I guess if we don’t get this to snow quickly here in Bedford then I can look on the bright side and say I don’t have to shovel any snow.
Yes, it seems to have abated for the moment, but looks to be about 4-5″ in my opinion. Very heavy and caked on the trees making them flop down. Lights have flickered several times, but no outage…YET!! Armed with 2 big ol’ flashlights if all Hades breaks loose! I’m ready!!
Kevin, is it about over? It has slowed in Salem
Radar is showing absolutely no signs of letting up in the NRV. In fact, moisture is beginning to stream in from the south to the north. So, the west to east collapse is certainly on hold for a while. Reports of 12″ in Bluefield area, and around 7″ in Blacksburg. The NWS has the WSW in effect until 1am for a reason, this snow is not shutting off much before then.
This snow storm seems to ne a bust in north central Henry County. Also seems to be extremely elevation dependent here as some spots in the county are covered in white while others are getting just a cold rain with some mixed smow. Better luck next storm I guess.
snow line has rapidly expanded from Roanoke to Richmond..Lynchburg and Farmville is starting to get in the act.
Yep brandon its weird to not even a miles difference where the weather is more rain than snow
6″ on my snowboard (or 1 chihuahua) since it started here around 3:30 this afternoon…HUGE flakes now. If it holds together like on the radar,we may get another 2 or more hours out of this storm. Congrats on the 11″ in Burkes Garden…
The radar problems make it difficult to tell exactly, but it appears there is significant slacking from just west of Blacksburg to just west of Roanoke moving southeast. Snow has ended in southern West Virginia according to TV meteorologists there on Twitter.
The snow is starting to fizzle out a bit right now around brambleton avenue. Kevin, is there any chance that we’ll see one more quick burst of snow as the storm exits?
Just heard some thunder in Carroll County. Power still on but blinking a lot.
Just had some lightening in Radford
Brandon R, regarding the quirky zone, I think we’re in the snowstorm’s “Twilight Zone”. :=)
Talked to my mom on northwest part of Smith Mtn Lake – just a dusting as of 7pm. Versus 8 inches here in Blacksburg. Really surprising how much difference just 50 miles made.
Heavy rain right now in Goode. Was snowing hard an hour ago.
9″ @7:00 pm just north of Town of Pulaski. Wow. Snow started here at 2:30
According to a map on their Facebook page, The National Weather Service is apparently expecting 2 to 3 more inches in the Roanoke area tonight.
Are the radars down? Weather channel has showed same thing for about an hour
Kelly Hoge in Burkes Garden looks like you have hit the jackpot with 11 inches.Would have thought it would be colder than 29 that high up in elevation.Keep posting on here everyone loves to read your post!
Thank you guys for letting me play along tonight from Dallas..
Ill just have to imagine what the view will look like tomorrow from
Grassy Hill toward Cahas…
Special Weather Statement from the NWS:
THROUGH 900 PM…SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO FALL ACROSS THE REGION.
SOME AREAS MAY EXPERIENCE LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW BANDS WITH SNOWFALL
RATES IN THE ONE TO THREE INCHES PER HOUR RANGE. THE REGION
BETWEEN INTERSTATE 81 AND THE CREST OF THE BLUE RIDGE WILL
EXPERIENCE SOME OF THE HEAVIER SNOW.
FWIW the “future cast” feature on the radar I’m using has us in snow here near Galax until after midnight! We will get a foot or more if that holds true. May have to switch to Labs for my measurements…
The center of circulation now looks like its
situated just about Statesville NC..
Just SW of Winston Salem.
http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=fcx&product=FTM
Never mind on my last post about the snow continuing. Even though the radar shows heavy snow over Blacksburg now, I can say it has basically shut off. Looks like WDBJ was (yet again) correct that it would end by 8pm. One of these days we will get a Good Ole Fashioned Snow Storm that lasts 24-36 hours (like 93 or 96 or 98). These 4-8 hour jobs, while nice, really don’t do it for me. Even the December 2009 storm only lasted an all too short 12 hours.
I was getting concerned throughout the day when I saw our temp here in East Rke County remaining stable while other bloggers were giving hourly drops in temps. I am about 1/4 mile from the Bedford County line and must be in that warm “bubble” being discussed. Temp here near the school remaining
37 degrees with light rain. No snow just some slush.
Kelly…we will be looking for pics tomorrow..
Power out here and the snow has stopped. Wah!!! About 5-6″ so far. Since it is already a mess can I hope for a bit more to fall?
Buddy lives near Chamlisburg and said they had no snow around 5 or so.
I’m down to counting the seconds between popcorn kernels here.
Should be done by the time Wheel of Fortune is over.
Hangin’ at 30.6
Just went out its done with the big heavy stuff and might be rain at this point.
Why is the radar always down when we need it most?? It’s like Star Trek when the transporter is inoperative just when Kirk needs it most. LOL.
Hey Doug, remember this one:
Spock: “Mr. Scott…20 seconds to detonation….Mr. Scott….try inverse phasing…”
Kirk: “Gentlemen, I suggest you beam me aboard” (i.e. before I die inside the Doomsday machine).
I’m with you on that Blacksburg Mike. I would much prefer to get a day and a half of moderate snow over 4-6 hours of heavy snow.
Close to 6-1/2″ measured in socks around7, Not a close 3 measurement deal by no way. Besides, the socks could stand a washin but my feets didn’t thunks they needed one.
Snow had stopped for 40 minutes or so. I have to think a lot of the thundersnow reports are actually power flashes. It was looking like the fourth of July here earlier and our power kept going off. Have not heard thunder
Still snowing here in Rocky Mount at a good clip. I hope it keeps coming. Really big flakes which is a sight to see. Started here around 3 as sleet then transitioned to snow about 330/4. We have at the moment 5.75″.
Someone just lost a tree or a large branch while I was outside. I guess morning will tell the story. Still snowing slightly in Fairlawn.
Snow picking up again here in Bedford. I am still holding out some hope.
8-9″ depending on measure locale, 1850′ near Fairlawn. Started about 1:45pm, just light snow now with some settling already.
I have been overwhelmed by hundreds of comments today … that’s a good thing … and I have not read all of them as thoroughly as I should. There are a few I probably should have moderated off the board to maintain a degree of pleasantness. I’ve had to remove one after the fact for a very specific reason.
7-7.5″ in Radford the snow has stopped.
My daughter is at High Point and said it just turned to snow there.
Funny you mentioned popcorn. My grocery list after I got past the produce and beer cooler had a request for a bag of popcorn. 10 times as good as the microwave junk. As long as you stop and pick up a pound of butter. Hey, doctors gotta make a livin also.
Thanks for the great work on this KM. Now, please go find us another one to watch for! This was way to quick.
The Chapel received around 5″ and there is melting going on off the trees. The snow has stopped but not before our power went off here. Last I heard there are 9300 customers in the dark in Washington Co. Last time this happened it took 4 days to get power back and the time before it took 7 days. Generator is humming.
Snow picked up in intensity a few moments ago, have at least a dusting to maybe one inch in Ridgeway.
Measured three inches of slushy, wet snow in Roanoke near Patrick Henry High School. Snowing has stopped or seems to have switched back to light rain. Kids enjoyed it, though. Hope the lights stay on. Hope those folks on 220 get out of that mess, too.
Appco has 100k plus w/o power
Kevin, quit worrying about the commenters here. Most times it will take care of itself. An ugly comment/remark is normally sailed on by your readers and corrected without your intervention. If it gets extremely ugly, call me. I’m the best that’s ever been at that sort of posting.
What I would prefer in a snow event is a dry fluffy snow, not this heavy wet sag the limbs/break the power lines stuff. I also think it’s actually harder to drive around is semi-liquid slush than it is a crisp dry snow. And I like to use my snowshoes.
We do not want a change to rain. If temp drops, we will have a skating rink.
This is as wet a snow as I can recall.
Show’s over here.
5-1/2″ if you average the coffee-cake crumbs.
30.6
Until next time, Good People!
Same Bat time. Same Bat channel.
Here in City of Bedford we have nothing on the grass. Maybe a quarter inch on the cars. A few medium-size flakes falling. Looks like it will be all over soon. I was hoping for more. Maybe another band will form?
Does anyone have any idea about specifics about 81 south just north of Pulaski? I have a loved one stuck on 81 going on 2 hours now…. lights in Floyd are flickering, please let me keep power…. Been mostly lurking here since 2009
Maybe it’s our area, but the snow here doesn’t seem to be heavy at all. I’ve shoveled the driveway twice and it was actually very easy to move around. And trust me, I hate shoveling snow!
Official NWS Blacksburg total came in at 7″ in five hours, and the entire event the temp was 33 or 34 degrees. If we had been at or below freezing the entire time we probably would have picked up about 10″. Still sitting at 33 and you can hear it dripping/melting down the gutters. Can’t even imagine the kids trying to play in this slop, considering underneath is puddles and mud.
Seems to be over here, without looking at un radar. So, my total will stand at 6-1/2″ til mornin. Take your butt to bed Mr. Myatt. You earned your paycheck today. And if Dirty Dan Casey says otherwise, have him call me. He don’t want none of my thoughts.
Non-related weather comment: wdbrand, I think you mentioned specifically to me about the RT garden blog… I have followed it too, I’m just shy about posting. Thanks for welcoming me!
For the first time in since 1976 I’m sitting at home during a snow event. No screeching blades on blacktop, no high rpm small engines, no shovel to lean into, and the salt in my mouth is from the popcorn i’m eating, not the spreader i’m pushing. This is kinda nice, I could get used to this.
11 inches in Narrows. Snow has stopped. Thankfully still have power.
WD: I’m at the office tonight doing my “regular job” editing the newspaper. But I certainly plan to take your advice in a few hours.
This thing’s done. 3.5 inches in Grandin. Gotta say, disappointing yet again.
It stopped snowing here about an hour ago. I’ve got between 5″ and 6″ on the deck railing.
Beet Queen – the VA 511 website reports that I-81 southbound is completely closed due to a tractor trailer accident near mile marker 109.
Whoa, crazy crazy. Lighting and thunder like I have never seen before in Ridgeway. Have experienced thunder snow before but nothing compared to the lightning flash and rolling thunder that lasted upwards of twenty seconds. Wow!!!!
About 3″ in Bonsack Read Mtn…stopped snowing about an hour ago with just a few flakes now. I have cleared the driveway already and the temp is right above 32 so getting some additional help with melting.
I will say this…the snow is very WET and HEAVY on the underneath layer…take caution if shoveling!!!
And now it’s raining in Raleigh Court. We have maybe 4-5 on the back deck.
Another thing I don’t like about these wet snow events. They turn to drizzle or light rain as soon as the intense snow is over, to make them even more sloppy.
Snows like this were 90% of what I grew up with in Arkansas. I like powder better.
I would say around 5.25 inches of snow here on brambleton as measured on my vehicle, 3.25 inches of snow on the driveway. I’ve gotta say, what a week. So much needed moisture came into our region, and i’m glad we got it.
Beet Queen, I heard that 81 was closed at mile marker 94. Not sure if it’s true or not and I don’t see it on the VDOT list.
We just heard thunder in Martinsville! It snowed heavily for a couple hours but the temp is up a degree to 34 and it seems to be mostly rain now. Looks like about an inch on the deck rail.
Thanks, Jason in Riner! Of course I found that after I posted. I’ve never had much luck with the VDOT website (operator error?) so I thought I’d put some feelers out. Snow has tapered off here and that’s fine. My trees need a break.
Yep, getting some light freezing rain right now Kevin.
The wet snow is playing havoc with overhead lines in the Greater Glenvar area. The fire department is rolling every 15-20 minutes on line down calls for the last couple of hours.
9 to 10 on the deck depending where i measure in SE Grayson. Still snowing pretty hard here.
Great day reading the comments on what has been happening around SW Virginia since mid-afternoon. Stupendous work, KM. For those of you who have loved ones who have not yet returned home, best wishes. 5 inch total here, and snow has stopped at least for the time being. Phew. 5 inches will make for a challenging first mile to get to Rte 419 before dawn, but at least it is downhill, and it is a lot better than 7 or even 6 inches for my car. If I get lucky VDOT might be able to make a run up and down Sugar Loaf Mntn Road before then.
Safety Tim, are you out there? Or wd. What do you think the odds are for a plowing of SLM Road?
A little light rain here Brandon AVE area. Worst part temp has went up a tad add in this heavy wet rain what was 5 on my back porch has been cut down some.
Lurking in Meadows of Dan: It is probably common knowledge to you weather-folk but the National Mosaic radar map: http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/full_loop.php gives good definition of regional weather even when the local radar is out. Kevin, you would know if it is cobbled up and inaccurate or something but it looks good to me. Great blog.
I’ve got to learn to check to see if Kevin has posted a new thread! I posted on the last thread that AppCo power went out here at 7pm. I can see trees bending to the ground from this morning’s ice and the snow and I am hearing them break. Up to 11.25 inches now – cleared the snowboard four times so far and still coming down. Saw/heard some thundersnow about 20 minutes ago.
Jared, you are more than welcome to the snow I got here. Yeah, come over and take it all! It has now crossed over into the realm of too much snow for me. Got a lot of digging out and clearing out fallen trees for tomorrow.
The national mosaic radars use neighboring radars to compensate for missing radars. They actually looked better today when NWS-Blacksburg (KFCX — in Floyd County) was entirely out, not operating on degraded mode. When Blacksburg started operating on reduced capability, the mosaics used that data and created odd “dry slots” right when we were getting heavy snow.
Two government agencies fared less than great today. NWS for the bad boy Doppler site near Doppler Carol. And maybe VDOT, although no one here that I have seen has complained about them (and I am not complaining about them now, either). The impossibility of pre-treating roads contributed greatly to the awful driving conditions. Oh, one final thing. Once the slush in the gauge melted, I ended up with 1.3 inches of rainfall equivalent as of 3:45 since late yesterday, over 5 inches of rainfall since Monday (is this a duplicate posting? sorry if it is) not including the rainfall equivalent since I rescued the rain gauge.
Thanks, Deb! That’s probably the real culprit based on where my sweetie is stuck. What a mess.
O my gosh, Indian Valley!! Immense total. Seems like some folks that live on the western side of the Blue Ridge and SW/W of US 220 got hit pretty hard.
Doug G, I’d guess the odds are better than usual with the early stop. The state crews are out there hitting it. And from now on they only have hit each road once.
Too wet and heavy for my plow…
I’m confused, as the national radar is now showing snow over all of western VA and eastern WV, but the Blacksburg radar is showing no snow over the same area. Either way it has been done snowing here since 7pm. By the way, what’s with the temps going up (up one degree in the last hour)?
Another band possibly moving into the burg?
Mike try spraying the blade with silicone spray. PAM will work in a pinch.
Anyone experiencing a lot of melting? My driveway was white and now is gray again and the snow is melting and dripping from the roof/gutters and trees in a hurry. Its 32 degrees out though..
I hardly have 2″ at best, though relatives on the opposite side of the county have much more than that.
This is one of the prettiest snows that I can remember. I was out and about walking through the ‘hood. Other than the snapping of branches, it’s quite peaceful out. Very post-cardish.
Now, the snow is over, and if the weather gurus are correct, I am going outside in the morning and bow down to that big orange ball when it appears in the east.
Bye snow, it was fun while it lasted. Although not the big ‘payout’ still quite respectable. 10 inches on Poor mountain at my house @2960.
Mike
Wow is all I can say. Now up to 4″ at 30 degreees at 8:45PM and still coming down hard and heavy.
There have been numerous reports in Central VA of thundersnow & lightning.
This storm has been so fast that I can’t keep up on the website. Looks like another 3-4 hours here of good snow. Sorry Jared French that you missed out. I really thought you would get this too. I can’t control the weather, but I can sure talk about it.
Well, got approximately 9.5 inches here IMBY in Radford. It is absolutely beautiful outside tonight! On the other hand, the power has been out for almost 2 hours!
My grand total is 11″. Stopped snowing an hour ago. Most of the whole snow event occured with temps between 32 and 31.
Beautiful night here in Blacksburg. Perfect snowman building snow but I know it’s heavy stuff that could knock out power. Keep my fingers crossed that most don’t lose power and if they do it will come back quickly.
Total bust just 8 miles north of Charlottesville on Route 29. Had a very brief period of sleet, but other than that, it has been all rain all the time.
Amazing that less than 24 hours ago, NWS had us in the 8-10″ zone, wxrisk put us in the 6-9″ zone.
whoops 11 inches, mistyped. Of course thats not on the ground(bout 9) but on raised surface on my back deck.
Mike
I wouldn’t say we are out of the woods yet because of 30mph wind gusts. if that happens tonight I bet a few more including me might be out of power!!! Great snow! Should help the water tables i’d say!
Back to heavy snow in Martinsville – half-dollar sized flakes. Power was out for a few minutes but thankfully it’s back on now.
For What It’s Worth (or FWIW in computer speak), I looked at NEXRAD’S Charleston’s (WEST V) site, and it showed some snow showers near Blacksburg and also in Craig, Botetourt, Alleghany, and western Bedford, as well as west of I77. A few off and on little splotches moving through parts of Roanoke County at times. But I am not sure that they are really moving through or simply shrinking in size. Anyone out there getting some moderate snow now west of I81 or west of the BRP? That radar site cannot penetrate much east of the Blue Ridge, I think. Greensboro/Raleigh or some other radar to the east would be better for those areas.
Again I apologize to ricky. If you are still reading this, are you finally getting some snow?
After a lot of rain this morning followed by an hour of heavy sleet it started snowing here just before 2 PM and by 8 PM we had 12.5″ on the ground. We lost a giant (approx 30′) limb out of the bottom of the big pine next to the driveway and it managed to block the driveway and take down the horse fence in one fell swoop. I heard many more cracks and rumbles but so far the power has stayed on.
After spending 8 very cold days in San Diego and returning home yesterday morning it appears we brought the weather back with us…historical weather seems to be following me around the country! To TWLS: you’re welcome!
With the fence repaired (temporarily anyway), a fire in the stove and a cup of hot chocolate piled high with marshmallows, good snowy night from Rocky Gap!
It is lightly snowing now but we ended up with 6″ here on the east side of town. Hopefully the rain will hold off and we only see light to moderate snow the rest of the night.
I forgot I had a table in the side garden so I went a measured the snow that was on it. 8″, pretty decent. I just went outside and it’s not snowing any longer and I hear drips. I don’t have a thermometer so not sure of the temps outside but evidently warm enough to melt something.
i have a family member traveling towards blacksburg, what are the snowfall totals there?
Rough day, wasn’t it, Rick (of Wytheville)? :>) :>) I (nearly always) enjoy reading your comments, and enjoyed all of them recently. First you have to deal with the boss of the house (or is she?) doing terrific in the snow predicting contest, then dealing with 11 inches of very wet, heavy snow. Do what you want about the Snow Hater’s Club. It is sort of in limbo right now. If we start getting more snows, I may try to resurrect it. This snow provides an increased window of opportunity (for as long as it sticks on the ground) for the next system to also be snow, right, Kevin? But isn’t the outlook dry through at least Sunday?
P.S. Driving back from the airport in Charleston yesterday we noticed water everywhere and just about everything was full from the Kanawha River to the little rogue creeks that pop up after Spring rains. Wolf Creek, just below our house, was also roaring just a bit above full pond when we ventured out to Woody’s this afternoon. If this foot of heavy, wet snow melts quickly (and it looks probable with sun and 35* tomorrow) there will be flooding.
We lost power for a couple hours here in Vinton, but it’s back on now. Snow looks to have stopped for the time being.
We’ve 3 1/2″ in Greensboro, NC. Big snow flakes are falling hard and heavy and creating a pretty significant slush on the road.
If Rick in Wytheville has 11″, anyone know what Rural Retreat, VA has? I’m (planning on) going there tomorrow!
Just a measly 5″ in Glenvar. It’s pretty though.
Snow ended in southwest Montgomery County around 8 pm. Total accumulation was 8 inches. I saw a few flashes when I was outside shoveling. Must have been power flashes, because the snow had ended and there was no thunder.
to Debi–Our son lives 2 miles from Exit 118 Christiansburg and he has 9″ of snow there and temperature is dropping
Susanne, Rick in Wytheville would have a much better idea, and so would Ken in Marion, but if neither of them replies to you, I would guess that Rural Retreat got at least 10 inches. It is a bit higher than Wytheville, although Rick’s home is a bit higher than the town center as well.
Renee of Rocky Gap and Kelly Hoge of “the Garden,” thanks very much for checking in here. Rene, I was watching WDBJ7 earlier and one of the reporters (Melissa Gaona?) was on the phone with a lady from VDOT. The lady from VDOT mentioned that at least one tractor trailer had jacknifed near the entrance to the Big Walker Mountain Tunnel in Bland County, plugging the highway. Northbound, I believe. Did you hear anything about that?
5000 Montgomery households without power. Me thinks you are right Jason.
According to craig botetourt our power is out for the night. Snow has stopped but I can’t wait to see it with the sun out tomorrow!
At Safety Tim, TYVM for replying to me. A neighbor on my street knows I work for USPS and have to get to work if at all possible. He drove home in his 4-wheel drive 30 minutes ago and gave me some fab news. SLM Road has just been plowed and was bare pavement (and he thought it also looked treated, but he wasn’t sure about that).
Safety Tim, DCs 3-6″ became a huge bust, we’d love to have your 5″ up here.
Thanks Knight Alum for the update. my son is coming back to school and is leaving Maine in the morning so i wanted to give him an update. I live in Wise County, VA and we have 11-12 inches here in the Wise area. made for an interesting ride home from work. lots of stranded vehicles all over the road and it came down so fast and we had a lovely layer of freezing rain prior to the snowfall; it began at 1pm and by 4:30 we had 9 inches.
10.5″ officially in Hillsville. Measured 7.5″ at 6:45. Snowed bonkers from then tik it quit at 8:15. Measured again once snow had stopped officially 10.5″. Crazy. All of the snow fell between 3:15 and 8:15
Beware of the black ice in the wee hours. I’m afraid that if the wind does not dry things up pretty quick behind the plows we’ll have a dangerous situation in the morning.
Doug* I hadn’t heard about the tractor trailer near Big Walker but our neighbor told us earlier that 460 was blocked between Pearisburg and Princeton and also between Bluefield and Tazewell. At about 2:30 this afternoon a brave soul at Woody’s who had just exited 77 (3 miles from my house) said the interstate was absolutely horrific. We usually get some noise from 77 and I can’t hear a thing tonight. I’ll have to check out the VDOT cameras to see if traffic is moving. We were pushing snow with our Polaris while fence mending…I darn sure wouldn’t want to try to maneuver in a lower clearance road vehicle, at least on the back roads.
I didn’t get out of my square mile today, has anyone laid eyes on the Roanoke river?
Susanne: Rural Retreat is only 10 miles from Wytheville, so you can bet they got about 11″ as well. I suspect roads will be poor in the morning but with sunshine, the main roads should be good after lunch.
What is with the temps going up? I assume cloud cover will move out and they will drop during the night.
Whats the risk of severe flooding from the melt that’s coming?
We are finally gettin some snow down here in the Triangle. About an inch of slush on the road and coming down in a hurry.
This is officially a bust, no matter how anyone tries to spin it. In between Callaway and Rocky Mount, we have less than an inch, and that’s being generous, despite HPC’s 70% chance of four or more inches.
Tomorrow will not be an extreme melt with temperatures in the 30s. Over the weekend we get some 40s, low 50s. I don’t think it’ll create a flash flooding situation, but will add to the high streams from the recent rain.
Amazing we’re talking about flooding a week after we were in an long-term drought.
Which reminds me — here is the newest drought map — which reflects ONLY new rainfall before Tuesday morning. We’ve gotten a bunch since that will likely change this map big time next week.
http://www.droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_state.htm?VA,SE
Thanks, Doug! I forgot to mention the lightning and thunder snow in Greensboro.
Does only your location count, Rich? No forecast is ever exactly right for every location. Ever.
The HPC will score it based on what it does over the entirety of the area. Seems likely more of the area it delineated verified than didn’t. Your location, and Bedford County being major exceptions.
I’m signin’ off. Finished off at about 10 to 11 depending on the spot. I would go 10 officially where I live in SE Grayson. Good job Kev. Till next time…
BIGGEST BUST OF THE DAY:
Kevin’s snow meter for this week.
Just kidding! Great work today handling the over 300 comments and updating us with you nowcasting and knowledge. Is there another low swinging through the area next Friday/Saturday when the “modified” arctic air begins to recede? Another challenging call on the snow meter?
Snow meter did bust by going with only 4 flakes rather than 1 or 2 more. Glad I at least mentioned this potential system, though.
I haven’t looked ahead in any detail yet, but it seemed like next week’s system might actually track pretty far northwest and bring in some milder air for at least a few days. I think we’re going to have more Arctic shots but it may be hard to get it to lock up for a long period of time.
Kevin,
Was this a “Miller B” event?
I don’t think it was Miller B since the surface low formed in Georgia and tracked basically eastward. Not really a Miller A, either. Will classify it as “other” til I have a better answer.
TO: Patrick in Northern Albemarle
I feel your pain, Bro!
I spent 18 years, since I was a kid, HOPING AND PRAYING for snow where you are now. Whenever there was a forecast for big snow, we always wound up in the pink slant instead of the white slant. All I can say is, when you move back to Virginia–move to Roanoke!!!
[Plus, Charlottesville is full of hipster Dew$$hh-bag$ that believe in gl0bal w0rming, so they deserve what they get. I am sorry you had to feel the brunt of their faith.]
Just got back inside after taking about a fifteen minute walk. It was lightning and thundering the whole time. Three or four flashes that lit up the sky and very loud thunder. As I was coming back in I did wonder to myself if anyone had ever been struck by lightning in a snow storm. I feel like Ridgeway came up short on snow totals, two inches at the most, but to experience the thunder and lightning like that certainly makes up for it. I also got a snow day out of it so that helps too.
We capped off with 7.5″ of snow, with the first 0.3″ of that as sleet, in New River. The main roads are looking much better, with lanes being cleared. Neighborhood roads still treacherous, but passable with caution. I got out and shoveled everything clear as soon as the snow stopped. Almost everything fell within a 5-hour timeframe from about 2:30-7:30.
Rich I live in Rocky Mount and we got 6″. I find it weird that the west side of the county received less snow than the east where I am.
And Kevin you were soooo right about this type storm just dying…no sooner do I post about snow continuing,than it just STOPS!! 10″ here east of Galax,some power outages around the area. Going to be lots of tree damage from this one,I bet. Great job today, Kevin,it has been fun following the blog today.
Mr. Winter,
I am 12 minutes to the west of Rocky Mount headed toward Callaway and there isn’t even enough snow to go over my shoes. It may be a case of snow bands setting up in different areas, but there isn’t even enough snow here to sleigh ride in, despite the six inches you have nearby.
Kevin, referencing your comment at 10:07, I will reserve judgement until I see snow totals for the region. Thanks for your hard work at keeping this blog updated. It is appreciated, as are you.
Here in mostly snowless Goodview (we did have a brief bit of snow around 8:30 that put a dusting on our slush) it’s 32.8, but 5 miles north in Jordantown it’s now a whopping 36….that warm spot just won’t move.
Rich: Those snow totals are linked on the new blog entry I just posted.
“Shiny, Happy People holding snow.”
(“Shiny, Happy People holding snooW-oo-wow-oo-wow.”)
“Shiny, Happy People holding snow.”
(“Shiny, Happy People holding snooW-oo-wow-oo-wow.”)
“Shiny, Happy People holding snow.”
(“Shiny, Happy People holding snooW-oo-wow-oo-wow.”)
Poseurs!
Adios!
We wound up with 6″, about 3mi south of Willis. I saw on the NWS list that someone reported 10.1 for Willis. Definitely not that much here.
It’s been a wonderful week at sea Captain! I’m ready for new thread, rising water and cold air masses, and the ends and outs of the last 4 or 5 days. It’s been fun, thanks to all.
10:17 PM, Forest Blurker. Unless you have changed your name, you are new on this blog. And definitely one of my favorites already. I am also a skeptic about global warming, but I am a big believer in the urban heat island. I don’t know if you will see this comment, because I am posting it on Friday evening (our server … COX … had a widespread outage since late last night). Here is hoping that you continue posting here. WELCOME ABOARD.