Winter Weather Slows Schools

Patchy ice on roads throughout the Amherst, Bedford, Botetourt, Roanoke and Rockbridge areas has led to 2 hour delays for schools in Roanoke and Rockbridge Counties.

Schools in Alleghany, Augusta, Bath and Highland are also on a 2 hour delay while Craig County schools are closed today (01/03/12).

Wind chills in Western Virginia are 0 to 10 below this morning with the exception of Highland County where temperatures are dipping to 10 below.

Winter Weather Advisories are posted for Alleghany, Bath and Craig Counties along with the New River Valley and all of Southwest Virginia.

Winter Storm Warnings are posted for western Highland County and Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

VDOT has posted minor advisories for all of Southwest Virginia indicating some issues with patchy ice and snow. Visit 511Virginia for complete details on road conditions.

*UPDATE 0800 - Alleghany, Bath and Highland County schools are now Closed. Augusta County Schools are now operating on a 1 hour delay. Blue Ridge Autism Centers in Buena Vista, Roanoke and Salem are operating on a 2 hour delay.

Winter Storm Update

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Augusta, Highland, Rockingham and Shenandoah Counties effective Wednesday evening. Accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are likely above 1500 feet in elevation.

A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Bath County in Virginia and Greenbrier County in West Virginia effective Wednesday afternoon through Thursday. Accumulations of 2 to 5 inches are likely above 2500 feet in elevation.

Forecasts for areas including Nelson County to the south, Winchester to the north, Culpeper to the east and along the Blue Ridge can expect anywhere from a half inch up to four inches of accumulation.

As excessive rainfall will proceed the forecast drop in temperatures to below freezing Wednesday night areas of black ice should be anticipated. Road conditions may deteriorate quickly during the overnight period.

Projected precipitation models (non-NWS) are indicating approximately an inch of snow for Roanoke, Lynchburg, Covington and Charlottesville. Lexington, Buena Vista and Waynesboro  may receive one to three inches. Staunton and Harrisonburg are projected to receive three to four inches. While Highland County may receive as much as 8 inches of snow.

Weather updates, traffic updates and closings and delays (if applicable) can be heard on Classic 96.7 3WZ, on streaming audio at 3wzfm.com and on 1450 WREL.

Friday Night Scores

Brookville 19 Rockbridge County 14

Liberty Christian 50, St. Christopher's 8

Covington 29, Bath County 9

Magna Vista 36, Salem 35

Jefferson Forest 21, Staunton River 7

Riverheads 21, Stuarts Draft 14

Wilson Memorial 42, Appomattox County 35

Broadway 50, Amherst County 23

Northside 42, Robert E. Lee 14

Winter Storm Warning

The NWS Sterling office has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the following Forecast Area beginning at 8:00 pm and continuing through to 12:00 noon Saturday.

Projected amounts vary for communities within the warning area. The Shenandoah Valley along the Interstate 81 corridor and areas to the west may receive 6 or more inches as indicated in this storm accumulation map.

A mix of rain and snow will begin soon after dark and change over to snow later this evening. The heaviest snow will fall overnight into early Saturday morning and end by mid-day.

The precipitation will likely be a heavy wet snow and with foliage still on many trees may lead to downed trees, broken limbs and possible power outages.

Snow covered roads will create hazardous travel. Some gusty winds are expected with this storm as well.