The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for much of the region, beginning Tuesday afternoon. A mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain is expected through Wednesday. The full text of the alert is below.
Additional details on the forecast can be found here: ABC 13
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
328 AM EST Mon Feb 18 2019
...Winter weather expected from Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday
afternoon...
.A strong area of high pressure will shifts east into the
Northeast United States, this will result in cold air wedging
down the Appalachians. As a winter storm lifts northeast across
our region, precipitation will spread north over this shallow dome
of cold air, producing a wintery mixture of snow, sleet and
freezing rain across our region. The storm is still evolving and
the amounts and precipitation types will likely change over time.
NCZ001>003-018-019-VAZ007-009>020-022>024-032>035-043>047-
WVZ042>044-507-508-181630-
/O.NEW.KRNK.WS.A.0003.190219T2100Z-190220T2300Z/
Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Watauga-Wilkes-Tazewell-Smyth-Bland-Giles-
Wythe-Pulaski-Montgomery-Grayson-Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-
Bath-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-
Amherst-Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Mercer-
Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier-
Including the cities of West Jefferson, Sparta, Dobson, Boone,
Wilkesboro, Tazewell, Marion, Bland, Pearisburg, Wytheville,
Radford, Pulaski, Blacksburg, Independence, Whitetop, Troutdale,
Volney, Galax, Floyd, New Castle, Clifton Forge, Covington,
Hot Springs, Roanoke, Salem, Fincastle, Lexington, Buena Vista,
Stuart, Rocky Mount, Amherst, Martinsville, Danville, Lynchburg,
Appomattox, Bluefield, Hinton, Hix, Union, Lewisburg,
White Sulphur Springs, Quinwood, Duo, and Rainelle
328 AM EST Mon Feb 18 2019
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...
* WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation possible. Total snow
accumulations will vary from light amounts in the piedmont to
heavy snows in Southeast West Virginia and Alleghany highlands
of Virginia. The highest amounts of snow will occur in western
Greenbrier where 4 to 8 inches are possible. Ice accumulations
will range from a light glaze to around one quarter of an inch.
* WHERE...Portions of southwest Virginia, northwest North
Carolina and southeast West Virginia.
* WHEN...From Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Power outages and tree damage are likely
due to the ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous
conditions could impact the morning and evening commutes.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Winter Storm Watch means there is potential for significant
snow, sleet or ice accumulations that may impact travel. Continue
to monitor the latest forecasts.