Blacksburg, VA – A winter system arriving Monday evening is expected to bring freezing rain, sleet, and pockets of light snow across southwest Virginia, southeast West Virginia, and northwest North Carolina, creating hazardous travel conditions through Tuesday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from 7 p.m. Monday to noon Tuesday for a wide area stretching from the North Carolina mountains to the Virginia Blue Ridge and into southeast West Virginia. Freezing rain will be the primary hazard across much of the region, with ice accumulations between a trace and 0.10–0.20 inches.
Along the I-64 corridor—including Alleghany, Rockbridge, and Bath counties—periods of mixed precipitation may produce up to one inch of snow in addition to a thin glaze of ice.
Communities most likely to see icy travel include Roanoke, Lynchburg, Danville, Martinsville, Bedford, Amherst, Appomattox, Wytheville, Pulaski, Lexington, Bluefield, Union, Lewisburg, Sparta, and Boone. Bridges and overpasses will become slick first, but untreated roads across the region may also see rapid icing overnight.
According to the NWS, the Tuesday morning commute will be the most impacted, with temperatures remaining below freezing in many mountain and foothill locations until late morning. Even a small amount of ice is enough to cause dangerous conditions, particularly on secondary and rural routes.
Motorists are urged to slow down, plan extra time, and check 511 for updated road conditions in Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia. Residents should also use caution on sidewalks, stairs, and driveways, which may become icy overnight.
Conditions are expected to gradually improve by midday Tuesday as temperatures rise above freezing.
