The National Weather Service in Blacksburg, VA, released the following weather-briefing at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 16:
Threats: Significant travel disruptions, snow covered and slippery roads, ice accumulations (areas east of the Blue Ridge) power outages, downed trees, low wind chills, gusty winds and some blowing snow (mainly in the mountains).
Location: Entire region
Timing: Through Monday
Overview of Impact: Accumulating snowfall amounts of 4 – 8 inches expected, with locally higher amounts possible along the west of the Blue Ridge (especially in the high country of Northwest North Caroline and the Western slopes of Southeast West Virginia.) Variable amounts between 2 and 4 inches are possible for the Virginia and North Carolina Piedmont where mixing of snow/sleet/freezing rain is likely to occur with a changeover to sleet and/or freezing rain by afternoon. Ice accumulations of up to 0.25″ expected east of the Blue Ridge, leading to possible power outages and downed trees. Hazardous travel conditions will likely linger into the day Monday and possibly Tuesday in some of the more rural areas.
Gusty winds of 25-50 mph expected Sunday night into Monday, resulting in reduced visibilities due to blowing snow in the mountains and scattered power outages and downed trees.
Wind chills in the single digits and teens Monday morning making frostbite and hypothermia a threat.
Additional accumulating snow showers expected along the western slopes of southeast WV into far southwest VA and northwest NC on Monday.
Affected Areas: Craig, Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Rockbridge, Bedford, Amherst, Summers, Monroe, Eastern Greenbrier, Western Greenbrier.
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