The Shadow
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – The third major snowstorm of the season left some parts of Virginia buried under 2 feet of snow on Saturday, leaving more than 200,000 electric customers without power.
The heaviest snowfall totals were in the western and northern sections of Virginia, although 6 or more inches had piled up in Virginia’s Southside along the North Carolina border, in southwest counties and the Richmond area.
Virginia State Police said they had responded to more than 2,000 traffic crashes and disabled vehicles since snow began falling early Friday. Two road deaths on Friday, in Wythe County, have been blamed on the weather.
“Everyone should stay at home and off the roads,” said Michael Cline, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
The Virginia National Guard put 500 troops on active duty and positioned them in the hardest-hit areas, such as Fredericksburg, Waynesboro, Charlottesville and in northern Virginia. They were assisting local emergency crews.
The National Weather Service said runoff from snow and rain had caused a rapid rise of the Dan River near South Boston. Residents were advised to monitor local conditions.
The Virginia Department of Transportation said crews worked through the night to clear Interstates 81, 77 and 581. While clear of snow, road surfaces remain slick, VDOT said.
Heavy snow had brought down trees and limbs on roads in Henry, Patrick, Roanoke and Bedford counties. Crews are working to remove them.
Dominion Virginia Power, which reported half of the 200,000 power outages, said the most seriously affected customers were in northern Virginia and the Charlottesville area.
Appalachian Power reported nearly 40,000 customers without power, primarily in Henry and Patrick counties, but also scattered throughout southwest Virginia. The remaining outages were reported by electric cooperatives in northern and western Virginia.
