Winter Storm in Giles, Virginia

Between 3 and nearly 6 inches of snow fell across Giles County from February 11 through February 12, with the highest amount of 5.9 inches observed at Mountain Lake. Almost 1800 customers had lost power by noon on February 12. 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.