Heavy Snow — Dickenson, Virginia

2009-12-18 to 2009-12-19 · Dickenson, Virginia

Event narrative

Ten single family homes had major damage in Dickenson County, while 17 homes had minor damage. Two mobile homes were destroyed.

Wider weather episode

Dickenson and Buchanan Counties were hit hard by heavy wet snow associated with a storm that moved out of the eastern Gulf of Mexico and across southern Georgia late Friday, the 18th. The storm then moved off the North Carolina coast early on the 19th.

The precipitation started as rain in the river valleys during the early afternoon of the 18th, then switched over to heavy wet snow for the late afternoon and evening hours. The heavy wet snow was described as like walking in cement with huge flakes falling. Roads over the higher terrain quickly became impassible. Tree limbs began to snap when snow accumulations reached around 4 inches. By 1900E on the 18th, Nora on Long Ridge in Dickenson County already had a 7 inch accumulation. By 2000E, Clintwood measured 8 inches. By midnight, the heaviest snow rates were over, but less intense snow continued to fall until the afternoon on the 19th.

The total snow accumulations from the storm were just 5 to 7 inches along some of the river valleys, such as near Grundy. Near Clintwood, the snow accumulation was 11 inches. However, amounts of 1 to 2 feet of snow were measured above 2000 feet. For example, Nora measured 16 inches.

Governor Kaine declared a state of emergency for the entire Commonwealth.

The pop, cracks, crashes, and boom sounds were heard as numerous tree branches and even whole trees fell to the ground. The worst impact of the storm, was the fact that the electricity was out for most residents for several days, including Christmas. Some residents had to wait almost until New Years Eve for their electricity to be restored. Refrigerated food was lost. The American Red Cross had shelters in Clintwood and Grundy.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 204502. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.