Virginia – A thin sheet of black ice is coating roads and sidewalks across western Virginia this morning, glistening under faint streetlights but almost invisible to drivers. Temperatures have plunged below freezing, and the National Weather Service in Blacksburg warns that even minor refreezing from yesterday’s melt could create dangerous slick spots, especially on bridges, rural roads, and shaded hills.
Motorists should slow down, allow extra braking distance, and watch for ice patches near I-81 and U.S. Route 460. Pedestrians are also urged to tread carefully on sidewalks and parking lots, where slips and falls may occur through midmorning.
By afternoon, sunshine will offer temporary relief with highs in the mid-40s, but another cold plunge arrives Thursday night, dropping lows into the 20s. Meteorologists say light snow showers could develop by Friday, especially in the higher elevations west of Roanoke and along the Blue Ridge Parkway, where a dusting to half an inch may occur.
This weekend stays cold and mostly dry, but wind chills near zero are expected by Sunday night into Monday, marking one of the coldest stretches of December so far. The broader weather pattern across the Appalachian corridor hints at more clipper-style snow events between December 12–17, continuing the early winter chill spreading through the eastern U.S.
Action tip: Treat all wet-looking pavement as black ice this morning, and check tire pressure — cold air can drop PSI quickly overnight.
Five-Day Outlook for Blacksburg, VA
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, high 39°F, low 22°F, calm and cold.
- Friday: 40% chance of snow showers, high 36°F, low 28°F.
- Saturday: Partly sunny, high 38°F, low 23°F, breezy at times.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, high 31°F, low 9°F, wind chills near zero.
- Monday: Sunny, high 42°F, low 17°F, dry but cold mornings linger.
