The Shadow
First rain, then wind.
Over an inch of cold rain fell on an already-saturated Alleghany Highlands Friday and Saturday before giving way to high winds on Sunday and Monday.
The extreme weather conditions led to flooding concerns, downed trees, widespread power outages, school closures and impassable roads.
Part of Route 220 (Hot Springs Road) in Alleghany County remained closed Monday due to a slope failure just south of the Bath County line.
Route 220 has been closed to through traffic since Sunday between Route 687 (Jackson River Road) and Route 615 (Main Street, Hot Springs).
The Virginia Department of Transportation is assessing repair plans, but there is no estimate for reopening the roadway. All work is weather permitting.
Through traffic on Route 220 will be detoured as follows:
— Northbound drivers will turn left on Route 687, continue north for 17 miles, and then continue straight onto Route 615 for three miles to return to Route 220.
— Southbound drivers will turn right on Route 615 for three miles, and then continue straight onto Route 687 for 17 miles to return to Route 220.
Variable message boards on Route 220 warn motorists of the closure. Flagging crews will be on duty 24/7 to assist drivers with the detour route.
Residents and business owners can access their properties by approaching from the appropriate side of the work zone.
Also, part of Route 661 (Johnson Creek Road) in western Alleghany County has been closed since Friday due to a slope failure between Route 600 (Indian Draft Road) and Route 781 (Rucker Gap Road).
The slide on Route 661 occurred due to rain, said Ryan Muterspaugh, public safety director for Alleghany County.
Drivers using Route 661 need to follow a posted detour route.
The Virginia Department of Transportation will make repairs to the slope, but there is no estimate on when the road will reopen. All work is weather permitting.
Meanwhile, no major damage was reported in Alleghany County from the high winds that swept through the Highlands Sunday and continued into Monday morning.
Muterspaugh said there were reports of scattered power outages and downed trees. A structure fire occurred in the Selma area Sunday, but Muterspaugh said he does not know if the blaze was attributable to weather conditions.
“Our fire and rescue people were out pretty much all weekend. It was a busy weekend, but no major issues with damage have been reported so far,” Muterspaugh said.
A?structure fire was also reported on Rose Street in Clifton Forge Sunday, while crews battled a brush fire in the Millboro section of Bath County Sunday.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Gathright Dam and Lake Moomaw reported 1.36 inches of rain on Friday and Saturday, raising the lake level to 1,589.9 cfs Monday morning.
Beginning at 9:30 a.m. Monday, the release from the Gathright Dam was gradually increased from 2,500 cubic feet per second to 4,500 cfs.
This change in release rates increased river stages at the dam about 1.2 feet and 1.2 feet in Covington over a 6-10 hour period.
A?High Wind Warning remained in effect until noon Monday.
High winds were blamed for power outages across the region, and downed trees were reported in all localities.
A 61 mile per hour wind gust was reported at Ingalls Field in Bath County at 3:55 a.m. Monday, and a 51 mph gust was reported four miles east of Hot Springs at 8:01 p.m. Sunday.
Phil Hysell with the National Weather Service in Blacksburg also reported a 37 mph wind gust in the Valley Ridge section of Alleghany County Sunday afternoon.
Hysell explained that a High Wind Warning is issued when winds gusts of 58 mph or more are expected and may disrupt power or down trees.
Schools were closed in Alleghany and Bath counties Monday, while schools in the city of Covington opened two hours late.
After the wind and rain, calmer weather is expected for the next few days before showers again enter the forecast Thursday through Saturday.
Temperatures in the 50s are also expected through Saturday before cooling conditions Sunday. Snow showers are forecasted for Sunday with highs only in the mid-30s.
