The Shadow
ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS, Va. (VR) – Residents throughout the Allegheny Highlands and surrounding counties awoke Monday to the region’s most significant snow event of the early winter season, with snow falling steadily from pre-dawn through late Monday evening, prompting widespread disruptions, hazardous travel, and school closures.
According to weather reports and local authorities, snow began accumulating rapidly in Bath and Alleghany Counties, Covington, and beyond, early Monday, Dec. 8, as a vigorous winter system swept across southwest and central Virginia. Most weather services had forecasted between one and four inches of accumulation, and by late Monday, those predictions proved largely accurate. Snowfall totals, however, varied widely; some locations, such as Staunton and Waynesboro, recorded between five and five and a half inches, while areas in Millboro saw three to four inches. Notably, Hot Springs reached around five inches, and measurements across Allegheny County ranged from three and a half inches to six inches, with the highest tallies reported along the ridge tops.
After the snow ended, rapidly plummeting temperatures presented new dangers. By the afternoon and into the night, readings fell from around freezing to the mid and lower twenties, and even teens in some pockets. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) warned that the combination of wet, slushy road surfaces and hard freezing could create widespread black ice and treacherous travel conditions, particularly on elevated roads, bridges, and overpasses.
“Even when roads have been treated, surfaces can quickly refreeze and become slippery,” VDOT cautioned.
The agency strongly recommended that drivers avoid travel until roads thaw and are declared safe. Local schools responded swiftly to the hazardous conditions.
“All public schools in the Alleghany Highlands were closed Monday, and most remained closed on Tuesday,” officials reported, marking the first consecutive snow days of the year for many students, who were seen throughout the highlands enjoying winter play in their warmest gear.
Despite prompt road treatment and official advisories, icy conditions contributed to a spate of minor accidents across the region. Interstate 81 in Augusta and Rockbridge counties, as well as Interstate 64 in Alleghany County, saw numerous slick spots and vehicle incidents. Comparable conditions were reported in parts of West Virginia, as emergency management and transportation officials worked to monitor and respond to evolving hazards.
The National Weather Service affirmed that much of the highlands received three to four inches of snow, with isolated locales nearing six inches. The winter weather system also extended into the central southern Shenandoah Valley, and even as far south as North Carolina and north into Maryland, causing icy roads and hazardous morning commutes far beyond the immediate vicinity.
Looking ahead, forecasts suggest this storm is only the beginning of a dynamic and potentially active winter. The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a mix of above-normal temperatures in general, but colder conditions across the Appalachians and southeast, coupled with below-normal overall precipitation but strong potential for periodic significant snowfalls from late December through February. Scientific models point to a weaker La Niña, suggesting cooler, stormier conditions with the possibility for memorable, if sporadic, snow events, particularly for central and southwest Virginia.
Further, winter weather advisories and even blizzard warnings are in effect for portions of West Virginia and southwestern Virginia, with predictions for additional snow showers, icy spots, and temperature swings in the days to come. Officials urge residents to prepare and plan accordingly, heed travel warnings, and stay tuned for ongoing weather updates.
As Alleghany Highlands residents dig out from this first snowfall and brace for the winter ahead, authorities remind all to exercise caution on the roads, remain vigilant, and prioritize safety during what could be an unpredictable season.
