10:58 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff
Road Conditions
VDOT says I-81 northbound, in-between Rural Retreat and Wytheville is back open. A tractor trailer jackknife caused the northbound lanes to be blocked for more than five hours, and traffic was backed up 13 miles at one point.
Power Outages
More than 19,000 customers without electricity according to APCo's website as of 9:55 p.m.:
- Amherst Co. - 375
- Bedford Co. - 1,539
- Bland Co. - 1,247
- Carroll Co. - 146
- Franklin Co. - 841
- Giles Co. - 2,361 (about 23.9% of all customers in Giles Co.)
- Grayson Co. - 693
- Henry Co. - 391
- Lynchburg - 878
- Montgomery Co. - 874
- Pittsylvania Co. - 152
- Pulaski Co. - 958
- Roanoke City - 3,657 (about 7.3% of all customers in Roanoke City)
- Roanoke Co. - 3,810 (About 8.6% of all APCo customers in Roanoke Co.)
- Wythe Co. - 1,132 (About 6.6% of all APCo customers in Wythe Co.)
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9:59 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff
Road Conditions
VDOT's Lynchburg district just sent out an update about road conditions.
Spokeswoman Paula Jones says most roads are generally covered with snow, and urges drivers to stay off the road unless absolutely necessary.
Jones added that some freezing drizzle is being reported, in addition to the snow.
VDOT will keep plow crews going through the night.
Power Outages
We've seen a spike in power outages in the past hour in Wythe County, Bedford County, and Lynchburg.
More than 18,000 customers without electricity according to APCo's website as of 9:55 p.m.:
- Amherst Co. - 254
- Bedford Co. - 1,523
- Bland Co. - 1,247 (about 32.4% of all customers in Bland Co.)
- Carroll Co. - 148
- Franklin Co. - 841
- Giles Co. - 2,787 (about 28.3% of all customers in Giles Co.)
- Grayson Co. - 425
- Henry Co. - 391
- Lynchburg - 978
- Montgomery Co. - 846
- Pittsylvania Co. - 152
- Pulaski Co. - 662
- Roanoke City - 3,351 (about 6.7% of all customers in Roanoke City)
- Roanoke Co. - 3,045 (About 6.9% of all APCo customers in Roanoke Co.)
- Wythe Co. - 1,444 (About 8.5% of all APCo customers in Wythe Co.)
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9:12 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff
Road Conditions
Just heard back from VDOT.
Bristol district (which covers Wythe County) spokesman Earl Michelle tells WSLS that a tractor trailer jackknifed on Interstate 81 northbound about a mile south of the Wytheville Route 11 exit (Exit 67) around 4:30 p.m.
The wreck is blocking both northbound lanes, and a wrecker service crew is on the scene, working to remove the big rig.
Traffic is backed up to Exit 54, an approximate 13 mile back-up. Drivers can use Route 11 to get through Wytheville. However, VDOT, police, and Wythe County advises all drivers that if they absolutely do not have to be on the roads, to stay inside.
Another accident closed one lane of I-81 southbound in the same area, also around 4:30 p.m. This crash was cleaned up as of 7:30 p.m.
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9:00 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff
Road Conditions
State Police say on I-81, multiple tractor trailers jackknifed in Wythe County, in-between Rural Retreat and the Wytheville Route 11 exit (exit 67) on the northbound side. That has caused the I-81 northbound lanes to be at a standstill for multiple hours.
State Police believe that I-81 northbound blockage should be cleared by 9:30 p.m.
Power Outages:
Just heard back from Appalachian Power.
Spokesman Todd Burns says the bulk of the power outages began after dark, making their crews' repair work that much more difficult.
Burns says some work will be done overnight, and more crews will be brought in once the sun rises on Monday.
In total, Burns says more than 53,000 APCo customers in the Virginia and West Virginia areas are without electricity as of 8:30 p.m. Of those, 24,000 are in Virginia, and Burns expects sporadic increases overnight.
APCo pre-staged more than 350 workers across its service area ahead of the storm. APCo has requested an additional 100 line workers for Monday.
Burns added that until APCo assessment teams are able to accurately get an idea of how bad the damage is, the company cannot give a time frame for how long power restoration will take.
More than 16,000 customers without electricity according to APCo's website as of 9:00 p.m.:
- Amherst Co. - 176
- Bedford Co. - 1,145
- Bland Co. - 1,223 (about 31.8% of all customers in Bland Co.)
- Carroll Co. - 109
- Franklin Co. - 723
- Giles Co. - 2,738 (about 27.8% of all customers in Giles Co.)
- Grayson Co. - 311
- Henry Co. - 391
- Lynchburg - 444
- Montgomery Co. - 654
- Pittsylvania Co. - 152
- Pulaski Co. - 592
- Roanoke City - 3,142 (about 6.3% of all customers in Roanoke City)
- Roanoke Co. - 3,740 (About 8.5% of all APCo customers in Roanoke Co.)
- Wythe Co. - 905
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8:23 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff
Power Outages
More than 15,000 customers without electricity according to APCo's website as of 8:20 p.m.:
- Bedford Co. - 946
- Bland Co. - 1,223 (about 31.8% of all customers in Bland Co.)
- Carroll Co. - 108
- Franklin Co. - 723
- Giles Co. - 2,696 (about 27.3% of all customers in Giles Co.)
- Grayson Co. - 311
- Henry Co. - 392
- Lynchburg - 197
- Montgomery Co. - 593
- Pittsylvania Co. - 152
- Pulaski Co. - 1,286
- Roanoke City - 2,840 (about 5.7% of all customers in Roanoke City)
- Roanoke Co. - 3,294 (About 7.5% of all APCo customers in Roanoke Co.)
- Wythe Co. - 903
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8:00 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff
Road Conditions
VDOT's 511Virginia.org shows all major roads in the WSLS viewing area are in "moderate" condition. That means snow or ice is covering a major portion of the road, and it is driveable with caution.
Again, Wythe County has advised all citizens to stay off the roads tonight, due to the amount of crashes in the county so far today.
Power Outages
There's been spike in power outages in Roanoke City, County, and Giles County.
Total of more than 14,000 power outages according to APCo's website as of 8:00 p.m.:
- Bedford Co. - 771
- Bland Co. - 1,221 (about 31.7% of all customers in Bland Co.)
- Franklin Co. - 723
- Giles Co. - 2,724 (about 27.6% of all customers in Giles Co.)
- Grayson Co. - 257
- Henry Co. - 392
- Montgomery Co. - 569
- Pittsylvania Co. - 152
- Pulaski Co. - 1,151
- Roanoke City - 2,635 (about 5.3% of all customers in Roanoke City)
- Roanoke Co. - 3,105 (About 7% of all APCo customers in Roanoke Co.)
- Wythe Co. - 901
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7:30 p.m.
By Storm Team 10
Updated snowfall forecase map in pictures above. The snow totals forecast is through the end of the storm.
By WSLS News Staff
Wythe County is advising all citizens to stay off of the road tonight.
We just saw a power outage spike on Appalachian Power's website.
As of 7:30 p.m.:
- Bedford Co. - 163
- Bland Co. - 1,221
- Franklin Co. - 720
- Giles Co. - 1,527
- Henry Co. - 392
- Montgomery Co. - 555
- Pittsylvania Co. - 152
- Pulaski Co. - 993
- Roanoke City - 1,786
- Roanoke Co. - 2,171
- Wythe Co. - 833
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6:21 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff
Blacksburg Transit (BT) says service will end at 8 p.m. tonight. Until then snow routes will be used:
North Main Street: All stops north of Patrick Henry drive are closed for the remainder of the day. Route will follow normal route along Giles to Patrick Henry drive but will go straight across main street and continue along Patrick Henry (does not turn right on Main Street); timecheck at the Patrick Henry timecheck, turn right on Seneca Circle turnaround, left onto Patrick Henry Drive, right onto Main Street and resume route.
South Main Street: Will follow normal route, timecheck at Fairfax and follow route to Marlington, turn right onto Grayland Street, Left onto Landsdowne, right onto Main Street and resume route.
Harding Avenue: Will NOT service Windsor Hills Apartment Complex. Follow normal route from campus along Roanoke Street to Harding Avenue, turn left onto Patrick Henry, timecheck at first stop, continue along Patrick Henry drive, left onto Main Street and continue south and enter campus via Alumni Mall.
Hethwood is currently experiencing delays, however service is continuing.
Please allow extra time for travel as delays should be expected.
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6:00 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff
Road Conditions
As the evening goes on, road conditions are getting worse. VDOT and State Police are working too many accidents to mention. You can find updated road conditions in the 511Virginia link to the right of the article.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DRIVE, PLEASE DO NOT GET ON THE ROADS.
Power Outages
Appalachian Power is getting reports of outages across Southwest and Central Virginia.
As of 6:00 p.m. according to APCo's website.
- Bedford Co. - 225
- Bland Co. - 283
- Giles Co. - 425
- Henry Co. - 386
- Pittsylvania Co. - 152
- Pulaski Co - 172
- Roanoke Co. - 264
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5:21 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff
Road Conditions
VDOT says road conditions are getting worse quickly across the WSLS viewing area.
State Police tell WSLS that as of 5:00 p.m., troopers had worked 170 crashes, and 115 were currently active statewide.
Most of the crashes took place in the western and southwestern parts of Virginia. Few of the crashes have led to injuries.
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4:21 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff
Road Conditions
VDOT's Bristol District (includes Wythe, Grayson Counties) just sent out an update.
Parts of Interstate 81 in Wythe County are covered with snow.
Interstate 77 has snow and ice patches.
The majority of primary and secondary roads in Wythe and Grayson Counties are snow-covered and slick.
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4:00 p.m.
From Storm Team 10
Snow Totals Update as recorded by the National Weather Service (You may see more in your neighborhood, depending on where you live):
- Bedford County (Stewartsville area) - 3 inches
- Floyd County (Check area) - 2.5 inches
- Roanoke City - 2.5 inches
- Wytheville - 2.5 inches
- Roanoke County (Cave Spring area) - 2.1 inches
- Bedford City - 2 inches
- Lynchburg - 1.5 inches
- Bath County (Millboro area) - 1 inch
- Campbell County (Timberlake area) - 1 inch
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3:30 p.m.
By WSLS News Staff
Driving Conditions Update:
As of 3:30 p.m., VDOT's 511Virginia.org shows that the major roads across the WSLS viewing area are in either "minor" or "moderate" condition.
The "moderate" condition roads means snow or ice is covering a major portion of the road, and it is driveable with caution. Most of the "moderate" condition roads are in the Wythe County, Bland County, Grayson County areas. They include: I-81, I-77, Rt. 21
Most of the other roads in our area show in the "minor" condition, meaning there is the potential for snow and ice on the roads, but they are driveable with caution.
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3:00 p.m.
From Storm Team 10 Meteorologist Jeff Haniewich
Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for all of the area through tonight.
With the current track of this storm the highest totals will fall in the Mountain Empire where 6” to 8” are possible.
- The New River Valley into Southside could receive 4" to 6"
- Northward from there including Roanoke and Lynchburg, 2" to 4"
- The Highland and I-64 corridor will receive the least with up to 2" or 3" possible
Temperatures will continue to fall throughout this afternoon and evening which will likely cause roads to ice and become dangerous.
By WSLS News Staff
Roads
From Tim Ciesco, WSLS reporter in the field
Wytheville area has seen between 1-2 inches of snow on the ground, roads are mostly clear, but slick.
Pulaski County area looked a bit worse than Wytheville when I drove through.
The Weather Channel's Mike Siedel is in Wytheville, off of I-81, doing live shots for the cable channel (which is partially owned by NBC).
Airport Flights
Roanoke Regional Airport tells WSLS that no flights have landed since 11:00 a.m. 3 outgoing flights have been cancelled, and one delayed.
If you have a flight scheduled between now and Monday morning, call your airline before leaving home.
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9:00 a.m.
From Storm Team 10 Meteorologist Patrick McKee
The storm track is shifting southward on computer models, so we are having to update the forecast for snow with a southward shift.
Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for all of the area through tonight.
With the southward shift of the storm track, higher amounts have shifted southward with lighter amounts expected to the north.
The Mountain Empire looks to see the most snow with 6" to 8" possible.
The New River Valley into Southside we now have forecast to receive 4" to 6".
Northward from their including Roanoke and Lynchburg, 2" to 4" is forecast.
The Highland and I-64 corridor will receive the least with up to 2" or 3" possible.
Temperatures will start the day above freezing but drop as the rain and snow begins.
As the changeover to snow begins, temperatures may be above freezing allowing melting. The warm ground will also promote some snow melt. If this continue for a long period, totals may have to be lowered.
Another forecast challenge is the track of the storm and its ever changing path. If it trends southward, we'll have to lower snow totals again.
Something else that could lower totals is thunderstorms to our south. If they block some moisture from moving our way, that keep us from seeing as much snow as we currently have forecast.
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