Roanoke, Virginia – A prolonged winter storm continued to impact large portions of Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina Sunday afternoon, setting up dangerous travel conditions and a difficult Monday morning commute across the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 1 p.m. Monday for much of southwest, south-central, and west-central Virginia, along with southeast West Virginia and northwestern North Carolina. Additional snow accumulations of up to one inch are expected, combined with ice buildup ranging from one-tenth to two-tenths of an inch. Wind gusts between 40 and 45 mph will increase the risk of falling limbs and power disruptions.
Communities including Roanoke, Blacksburg, Salem, Lynchburg, Bedford, Lexington, Bluefield, Lewisburg, Boone, Wytheville, and Danville are likely to see the greatest impacts. Roads, especially bridges and overpasses, are expected to become slick and hazardous as freezing rain and sleet persist. Officials warn that even small ice accumulations can quickly lead to crashes and stranded vehicles.
Power companies are monitoring conditions closely as ice loads and gusty winds stress trees and power lines. Residents are urged to delay travel, charge devices, and prepare emergency kits in case outages develop overnight.
Hazardous conditions are expected to linger through Sunday night and into Monday morning before slowly improving. Warnings remain in effect through early afternoon Monday, and additional updates may be issued if icing lasts longer than expected.
