Winchester, Virginia – Residents across western and northern Virginia could face renewed winter travel challenges as a late-January weather pattern increases the likelihood of accumulating snow across the region.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, western and northern Virginia are included in a slight risk for heavy snow from Saturday through the following Friday, signaling a higher chance for one or more organized winter systems during that timeframe. The risk is focused on inland and higher-elevation areas, where colder air is more likely to remain in place.
In the northern Shenandoah Valley, including Winchester and surrounding Frederick County, below-normal temperatures favor snow as the primary precipitation type. That could lead to slick stretches along Interstate 81, U.S. Route 7, and Route 50 during heavier snowfall.
Farther south along the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Highlands, including Harrisonburg and Roanoke, elevation-driven enhancement could allow snow to accumulate efficiently over multiple rounds. Mountain roads and secondary highways may become hazardous quickly during steadier snow, especially overnight.
The Virginia Department of Transportation urges residents to monitor road conditions closely, limit non-essential travel during snow, and prepare vehicles with winter safety supplies. With colder air expected to persist, snow that falls may linger between systems.
More specific timing details and potential winter weather advisories are expected as the late-January window approaches, with clearer impacts emerging by early next week.
