Steady snow in Roanoke, heavier north
As expected, some unexpected things have happened with the winter storm. The storm is evolving faster than expected. The new low that will eventually become a powerful western Atlantic storm developed pretty much right over Greensboro, N.C. tonight, a little farther south and west than expected. This was likely the trigger for colder air reaching the surface via dynamic cooling in the Roanoke Valley and many points north, resulting in a much earlier change to snow than expected. Accumulations of 1-3 inches have already been reported in the Roanoke Valley and nearby areas of Botetourt County. Meanwhile, strangely, some warmer air from the southwest likely caused precipitation to stay or turn back to rain in much of the New River Valley. Also contributing to the steady snow around Roanoke, a band of precipitation has become more or less stalled north to south along the Blue Ridge early on this Wednesday morning, and the precipitation has kept recharging along the band. This may be part of the storm system’s “deformation zone” developing, or the comma-head like structure as the low throws back moisture westward. With some additional upper-level energy moving through and the low moving only slowly east-northeast at first, this band may not move too much for a few hours. If this is the case, I would not be surprised to see some 3-6 inch snowfall amounts around Roanoke — the official total by midnight was already 2 inches. Snow may develop in parts of the New River Valley overnight as well with some accumulation. Northward, along I-81, it will be an all-out snowstorm from Botetourt County to Winchester and beyond, with numeorus 6+ totals and some 12+ totals.
March 6, 2013 - 1:21 AM
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The breakup of the moisture in KY is not apparent to me. I am looking at NWS and Wunderground radar
Kevin,
Any possibility that the temps stay low enough during the day to keep this all snow?
Can this reach lynchburg? What roanoke is getting
A lot of the eastern Kentucky stuff is upslope-enhanced. It does mark the presence of some upper-level energy that is enhancing precipitation along the Blue Ridge.
As for temps on Wednesday, if it stops snowing they will drift upward into the mid to upper 30s. Any additional precipitation though is likely to be snow as we will be on the backside of the storm with a full draft of sufficiently cold air.
Do you think you can answer my question about lynchburg?
I think some of this should sweep northeast into Lynchburg eventually. Lynchburg already has an inch according to some reports I’ve seen.
Will snow redevelop in the radford area? I see that we are only missing the band to the east by maybe 5 or 10 miles. Or is the stuff in kentucky going to make it into my area?
I think it’s going to be hard to get the snow to backbuild behind that sharp edge working through the NRV now. You may be waiting to see if the comma head will pivot back to you later today when the low deepens. The stuff in Kentucky is heavily upslope-enhanced. You’ll get some of those showers eventually.
I am going to get off here for a while and get some rest. Will be back on in the morning.
Woke up at 4:30 am to bare ground in Radford.
Elevation worked in my favor this time! Remember the bedford snow whole several of us complained mightily about a month ago! Well my area made up for it on this one! It was complete roles reversed here! Woke up to zero visibility on Jeters chapel mountain with heavy snow and a few inches on the ground! Got to the bottom of the mountain to the main road rt24 ( with 4 wheel drive mind you) and barely a skiff of snow with cleared roads that didn’t look plowed because there was no need! I’m only guessing that elevation was the factor here! It switched over to heavy snow at about 8 30 ish last night!
No power here. About 6 inches on my back deck. Kevin, based on the radar, thislooks like its about done. Is this so or will continue to wrap aaround?
Oddly, there wasn’t much more than a dusting when I left Laymantown this morning. Snow hole?
29.8* and what looks to be around 4″ to 6″ on my truck. Will measure when I get out.
Looks like about 2 to 2 1/2 inches where I’m at south of Roanoke, 1400 feet. I have about as much as the official Roanoke snow-measurement station at Channel 7 (which is very near the airpor) had at midnight.
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Another quirky event locally with uneven snowfall distribution.
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Just saw a report of 10 inches from Clifton Forge in Alleghany County.
Barely enough to turn the car tops white in New River. It looked promising in the evening when it changed to show and sleet, but went back to rain.
A dusting in Blacksburg. It finally began to stick to the roads about 4AM.
KM-any idea why the NWS insists on keeping the WWA in effect until 6pm in Montgomery Co? We have barely a dusting, with a few “snow showers” that are just blowin’ in the wind. I guess they are trying to save face. It’s kind of embarrasing to have a WWA up when it is clear the storm is over (at least in NRV). Looks like Greene County’s favorite son is finally getting his! Glad for ya J man!
Once a winter weather advisory is down they’re usually not going to lift it until the chance of snow or wintry precip is down to zero whether it appears to be meeting criteria or not.
Have about 3.5 inches of snow still snowing lightly red birds are eating breakfast and wind is starting to blow. Beautiful snow scenes this morning. Less than a mile from Roanoke County line with what sounds like a whole lot more snow
About 3 to 3 1/2 inches here in SW Roanoke Co, off of Roselawn (about 1300 ft) and snowing again at 6:59 am. Can we expect more snow accumulation this morning?
Guess you might say BUST for Greene! Only 3″ on the ground and it looked like the ground was covered when I went to sleep at midnight. Kevin, do you know what might have happened? Precipitation disappeared or something because its still 32 degrees like it was at midnight. Oh well, in those famous words “Maybe next winter”.
You’re not done Jared, more rotating in from the east. Some 6-10 inch reports down closer to Charlottesville.
Just posted new for the morning.
Bent mountain at 3100 feet, temp @ 21 degrees. Very windy . Beautiful to look at, but not so beautiful to be out in. Lots of drifting…measured snow, just under 4 inches…Kevin you hit it exactly right! Great job!