More snowfall expected Monday night; sub-freezing temperatures throughout week, single digits at night; schools closed Tuesday
~ PVN staff report
LURAY, Jan. 6 — The Virginia Department of Transportation issued a news release around 11 a.m. on Monday stating Sunday night’s winter storm “is not finished yet.”
“Roadways throughout the Shenandoah Valley and Alleghany Highlands are coated in snow and ice that make travel hazardous. Most counties in the region have received 4 to 8 inches of accumulation since Sunday evening. Additional snow, sleet and freezing rain are expected Monday afternoon, and refreezing will take place Monday night. Stay off the roads,” the Jan. 6 news release reads.
Just after 3 p.m. on Monday, Page County Public Schools announced that all schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 7. PCPS had expected to welcome students back after a two-week, winter break on Monday, but classes and all activities were canceled.
While forecasts vary, a few hours of additional snowfall is expected to begin in the Page Valley between late afternoon and early evening on Monday, and potentially carryover into the early morning hours of Tuesday. While accumulation is expected to be much less than the first wave Sunday night, temperatures will keep all of the frozen precipitation on the ground for a while. Monday night’s low will be in the lower 20s, but the remainder of the week will see low temperatures range from zero to 10 degrees overnight. Additional snowfall could be in the forecast for the coming weekend.
A representative from Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative stated Monday afternoon that there were “no issues to report.” In fact, SVEC sent 10 linemen to another Virginia co-op on Monday, once they felt they were “in the clear.”
The Page County Sheriff’s Office has also not reported any major incidents related to the winter storm as of Monday afternoon. However, county government shut down on Monday due to the inclement weather.
“Due to anticipated heavy snow accumulation, the Page County Sheriff’s Administrative Offices and all Page County Government facilities, including the Government Center, Animal Shelter, Social Services, Courts, Battlecreek Landfill, and Springfield and Shenandoah Compactor sites, will be closed on January 6, 2025. In case of emergency, please call 911,” reads a social media post by the Sheriff’s Office late Sunday. No word yet on the status of those offices for Tuesday.
Shenandoah National Park announced on Thursday that all of Skyline Drive will close at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4 due to the winter storm. It has not reopened as of Monday afternoon and will likely be closed most of the week. For future alerts in the national park, drive status, and important safety messages, text SHENALERTS to 888777 to receive updates via text.
At the onset of the winter storm, VDOT began plowing and treating roadways in the 11-county Staunton District. Crews and contractors will continue to work around the clock until all roadways are passable, according to VDOT. Non-essential traffic complicates those efforts and extends the amount of time required to plow all state-maintained roads.
Here are the road conditions as of 11 a.m. Monday in the VDOT Staunton District:
• Interstate 64 – Moderate conditions in Alleghany and Rockbridge counties. Minor conditions in Augusta County.
• Interstate 66 – Moderate conditions in Warren County.
• Interstate 81 – Moderate conditions in Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Frederick counties. Minor condition in Augusta County.
• Primary roads – Moderate conditions in Alleghany, Bath, Rockbridge, Highland, Rockingham, Page, Shenandoah, Clarke and Warren counties. Moderate to minor conditions in Frederick County. Minor conditions in Augusta County.
• Secondary roads – Moderate conditions in Alleghany, Bath, Rockbridge, Highland, Augusta, Rockingham, Page, Shenandoah, Frederick, Clarke and Warren counties.
VDOT is responsible for snow removal on all state-maintained roads as follows:
- The Interstate Highway System and limited-access roadways are VDOT’s first priority.
- Primary roads (routes numbered 1 to 599) and major secondary routes (numbered 600 and up) with vital emergency and public facilities, or those with high-traffic volumes, will be cleared along with interstate and limited-access roadways as resources allow.
- Low-volume secondary roads and subdivision streets will be treated after higher-priority routes are completed and additional resources are available.
For road information, check 511 at its updated URL and website: https://511.vdot.virginia.gov/. Apps for Virginia’s 511 system are also available for Android and iOS devices. 511 has traffic cameras, current crash locations, weather conditions and more. The public can sign-up for 511 alerts to be sent to their personal device. Roads with snow and ice conditions are marked minor, moderate, severe or closed.
Road condition definitions:
- Closed – Road is closed to all traffic.
- Severe – drifting or partially blocked road.
- Moderate – snow or ice on major portions of the roadway.
- Minor – bare pavement except for isolated spots of snow, ice or slush. Driving with caution is recommended.
Another information source is the VDOT website: https://www.vdot.virginia.gov, which includes a dedicated weather travel page.
The VDOT Customer Service Center can be accessed through its mobile friendly website at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/. Agents are on site 24/7 every day of the year to assist the public. People can also call the VDOT Customer Service Center at 800-FOR- ROAD (800-367-7623).
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