Historic Triangle Braces for Wintry Mix Friday

WAKEFIELD — Confidence has increased for snow over most of the area early Friday morning, continuing into the early afternoon, according to the U.S. National Weather Service in Wakefield.

As of Thursday afternoon, a Winter Weather Advisory had been expanded further east to include portions of Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore, and southern Maryland for the expectation of 1 to 3 inches of snow during the Friday morning commute.

NWS said snow will likely stick to the roads and pavement, making the morning commute slick. A light glaze of ice is also possible as it changes to a wintry mix/freezing drizzle in the afternoon, meaning the afternoon commute may be impacted as well.

York County School District announced Thursday afternoon that all YCSD schools and offices will be closed to all students and all staff, Friday. All athletic, after-school, and evening activities are also canceled.

WJCC Schools also announced Thursday afternoon that all offices will be closed and students will not engage in remote learning. All school and community events and activities during the day are cancelled. The division said it will continue to monitor conditions and determine if and how Friday evening and weekend activities and events may continue as scheduled.

As of Thursday afternoon, Friday’s joint meeting between the WJCC School Board, James City County Board of Supervisors, and Williamsburg City Council will continue as planned. It is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. at Legacy Hall.

The City of Poquoson announced the Poquoson Christmas Parade is postponed. Parade participants will receive an email to help determine the availability for a rescheduled date. If there is enough participation, a new date will be announced.

VDOT: Plan Ahead For Potentially Slick Friday Commutes

VDOT is warning motorists to check road conditions to determine if it’s best to delay travel or take it slow for both morning and evening commutes on Friday, adding slick spots are most likely to occur first on elevated surfaces, such as bridges, ramps and overpasses.

VDOT notes it maintains all interstates, major state-maintained primary routes, and county roads in Hampton Roads. Individual municipalities maintain their own primary and secondary routes.

VDOT Hampton Roads District said it began pretreatment operations Thursday morning, using a brine solution to help prevent bonding between pavement and any snow or ice that may develop Friday morning. Crews have been pretreating throughout the day, focusing on the Peninsula interstates; Southside interstate bridges, overpasses, and hot spots; and the state-maintained county primaries and major secondary roadways in the western portion of the region, the Historic Triangle and the Eastern Shore.

If travel is necessary, VDOT said drivers should use caution, reduce speed, maintain a greater following distance to ensure safety, and check roadway conditions by using its  free 511 mobile app, which offers information about road conditions, traffic, incidents, construction and congestion as well as access to traffic cameras, weather and more. Information is also available at 511.vdot.virginia.gov or by calling 511 while in Virginia.

• Use headlights. Increasing your visibility helps you to avoid slick and dangerous spots on the road, as well as helps other drivers see you better.
• Please clear all of the snow off of your vehicle. This prevents snow from blowing back onto your vehicle and limiting your vision, or coming off of your vehicle and impacting other drivers’ vision.
• Slow your speed. Though state police works closely with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to identify problem areas on Virginia’s highways during a winter storm, drivers still must drive for conditions. Slowing your speed gives you more time to safely react and avoid a crash. Drive your vehicle based on your ability to properly maintain control of your vehicle.
• Don’t tailgate. You need increased stopping distance on slick road surfaces. Give yourself more space between vehicles traveling ahead of you to avoid rear end collisions.
• Buckle Up. Most crashes that occur during winter weather are caused by vehicles sliding into guardrails, off the road or other vehicles. Wearing your seat belt protects you from being thrown around the inside of your vehicle and suffering serious injury in a crash.
• Check Your Vehicle. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order for the conditions. Fill up the tank in advance. Check windshield wipers, windshield wiper fluid, tire tread, battery life, etc.
• Don’t leave home without a window scraper, blanket, bottled water, snack, cell phone charger and flashlight.

AAA’s 10 Tips for How To Go On Ice and Snow

“If you stay ready, you never have to get ready,” said Holly Dalby, AAA Tidewater director of public affairs. “Taking the extra time to prepare before a big storm can make all the difference for those that have to go out and travel.”

While staying home and not traveling is often the best advice — that may not always be possible. AAA Tidewater offers these tips to help motorists get to their destination safely:

1. Before winter arrives, prepare your vehicle for use on ice and snow. Inspect all systems, brake, windshield wipers and tires.
2. Prepare a winter driving kit. Items can include blanket, ice scraper, flares or reflective triangles, flashlight with extra batteries, jumper cables, bag of abrasive material such as cat litter, shovel, cloth or paper towels, and cell phone with a full charge.
3. Never drive distracted or fatigued.
4. Use your seat belt every time you get in the vehicle.
5. Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage. It is easy to lose track of time and carbon monoxide is almost impossible to detect and can be fatal when breathed in a confined area.
6. Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
7. Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze up.
8. Dress as if you were going to be stranded. It can get very cold in a car on the side of the road waiting for help. Be sure to have extra blankets and to insist that children who may be traveling with you do the same.
9. Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, snow).
10. If in a skid, always look and steer where you want to go.