Virginia – The Blue Ridge morning air turns crisp and dangerous today as fog and freezing temps grip the New River Valley, creating slick roads and patches of black ice across Blacksburg and surrounding counties. With readings near 28°F, roadways that appeared clear at dawn may be deceptively slick—especially on bridges, overpasses, and shaded curves.
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has issued a Special Weather Statement, warning that temperatures will remain at or below freezing through early Saturday. Melted snow and runoff are expected to refreeze, leading to hazardous black ice conditions into mid-morning. Fog will also thicken in valleys, reducing visibility to under a mile at times.
Motorists across I-81, U.S. 460, and local backroads should use extreme caution. Keep headlights on, maintain extra following distance, and avoid sudden braking. Even light fog combined with black ice can lead to unexpected slides.
By afternoon, temperatures are expected to rebound into the low 40s, allowing roads to improve as sunshine returns. Sunday brings partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-40s, followed by a chance of rain and light snow Monday, where 1 to 2 inches of accumulation is possible in higher elevations.
Looking ahead, mild midweek weather could give way to a cooler, wetter pattern heading into Dec. 11–17, with the potential for another round of wintry precipitation as holiday travel picks up across the Appalachians.
