Snow Emergency Blog: The latest on road conditions and more
Moderated by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The Shenandoah Valley is under a state of emergency with the winter storm that is expected to dump as much as 30 inches of snow on the area this weekend.
The Snow Emergency Blog has the latest on road conditions from the Virginia Department of Transportation and the latest on the availability of emergency shelters from the local governments in Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro.
Look for updates from the AFP in the Comments section.
Cancellations Blog: The latest on weather-related closings
Moderated by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Postponement and cancellation notices are pouring in as the snow pours down on Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro associated with the powerful winter storm making its way up the East Coast this weekend.
The AFP will post updates on weather-related postponements and cancellations to our Cancellations Blog in the Comments section attached to this story.
Feel free to post your own postponement and cancellation news to the blog under Comments.
Updated snow forecast: 20 to 28 inches
Staff Report
News tips: freepress2@ntelos.net
The National Weather Service has amended its Winter Storm Warning for Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro. The latest forecast from the National Weather Service, issued at 2:10 p.m., has the area in line for possible snow accumulations of 20 to 28 inches this weekend.
The Winter Storm Watch is in effect from 6 a.m. Friday to 10 p.m. Saturday.
AccuWeather.com is projecting snowfall rates of up to 3 inches per hour at the height of the storm. The worst of the storm is expected to come into the area late Friday afternoon and be here through the dawn hours on Saturday.
That rate of snowfall will make it difficult for road snow-removal crews to keep up.
It is advised that people stay off the roads as much as is possible during the storm because of expected treacherous driving conditions. Visibilities will be one-quarter mile and less during the worst part of the snow event with sustained 10 to 15 mph winds and gusts of 25 mph creating near-blizzard conditions.
Get out of the road!
Authorities ask residents to move cars if possible
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
The Virginia Department of Transportation and the cities of Staunton and Waynesboro are asking local residents to park vehicles in driveways or otherwise off local- and state-maintained streets and roads to allow snow-plow drivers to do their thing.
VDOT is responsible for snow-removal operations in Augusta County. A press release from the local Staunton office includes the tip that moving cars out of roadways makes it less likely for cars and trucks to be plowed in inadvertently due to snow-removal work.
A similar message was sounded in the cities. Waynesboro city officials also advised residents to wait until snow plows make their first pass before digging out to avoid having to dig out twice and to remove snow from fire hydrants on their property to save time for emergency crews in the event of a localized emergency situation.
The city has also set up a page on the city website for residents to monitor the status of snow removal – www.waynesboro.va.us/snow-report.php.
The Rant | Snowbody knows
Video Essay by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
We’re hearing from people who are annoyed with the endless speculation about how much snow this weekend’s winter storm is going to dump on the Valley.
AFP editor Chris Graham is annoyed wtih the annoyed. It’s human nature to fill in the blanks on something this potentially big. It doesn’t mean that those who engage in the speculation are as misguided for doing so as the thought police seem to want you to believe.
The advice for those who want to stay above the fray – don’t look at Facebook, among other things. Read more
Weather-related cancellations
Edited by Chris Graham
Send cancellations to freepress2@ntelos.net
The snow isn’t here yet, but people aren’t waiting for the first flakes to fall before changing plans for what was set to be another busy winter weekend in the Shenandoah Valley.
Among the cancellations sent to AugustaFreePress.com:
- A performance of Dr. Levine and the Dreaded Blues Lady scheduled for the Waynesboro Public Library on Friday night has been canceled. No makeup date has been announced. Read more
Forecast: The Big One is coming
Staff Report
News tips: freepress2@ntelos.net
Just in from the National Weather Service: a Winter Storm Watch for Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro Friday and Saturday with a forecast for 12 to 18 inches of snow with localized amounts of 20 inches or more possible.
The snow is forecast to begin around daybreak Friday, according to the forecast alert, which was issued at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday. The snow is expected to continue into the evening hours on Saturday.
The alert from the National Weather Service indicated that the storm on its way here this weekend has the potential to be similar to the Dec. 18-19 storm that dumped between 25 and 31 inches of snow on the Greater Augusta area.
