Winter Storm in Roanoke, Virginia

Between 2 and 4 inches of snow fell across Roanoke County, including 4 inches in the city of Salem and in Bent Mountain. Also, between 0.1 and 0.6 inches of ice accumulated, with the highest amount of 0.6 inches of ice reported in Bent Mountain. There were 30 reports of downed trees and power lines due to ice accumulations in the city of Roanoke. Over 10,700 customers were reported without power by the morning of February 13. Key Impacts: power outages, downed trees, road closures.

A high pressure wedge was situated over the region as a surface low pressure system developed over the southern Plains, with an expansive area of precipitation that shifted eastward into the Mid Atlantic during the day of February 11. Precipitation began as snow, but with the high pressure wedge in place and warm air increasing aloft, a transition from snow to sleet and freezing rain occurred along and south of the Virginia and North Carolina border, so parts of southern Virginia received significant ice accumulations. Ice accumulations on trees and power lines resulted in thousands of power outages and road closures. Western Virginia, especially the Alleghany Highlands area, received heavy snow, accumulations of a foot or more were reported.