WILLIAMSBURG — While this weekend’s winter storm has moved out and the Historic Triangle has begun digging out from under snow and ice, the area was bracing for a cold blast to settle in Tuesday night.
The National Weather Service in Wakefield was calling for very cold wind chills Monday night into Tuesday morning. Wind chills, which could drop as low as 0 to 10 degrees, could lead to hypothermia or frostbite if precautions are not taken, it added, offering the following tips:
- Dress in layers.
- Limit time outdoors.
- Check on elderly neighbors and those without heat.
- Remember pets — bring them inside or ensure they have a warm, dry shelter, food and unfrozen water.
As of Monday afternoon, Virginia State Police were asking drivers to stay off the roads as the Virginia Department of Transportation was still in the process of making its way through the secondary and subdivision roads. If travel is necessary, VSP asks motorists to give VDOT trucks and emergency crews room to do their jobs and understand that storm impacts could delay emergency response to stranded motorists.
Virginia State Police said as of 4 p.m. Monday, it had responded to 506 crashes, 38 of which had injuries. Of those, 118 were in Hampton Roads, nine with injuries.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger thanked Virginians for staying off the roads during the storm.
“We saw a reduction of travel on our interstates of more than 80%. That matters,” Spanberger said. “That matters because it meant that VDOT was able to get their plows, their contractors, their personnel out on the roads, plowing unobstructed by vehicles. It means that Virginia State Police had far fewer crashes and disabled vehicles to respond to. It meant that operations could stay on track, aggressively getting snowfall and sleet off the roads. ”
“So please, if you are going to get out of the house and you are going to get out on roads, please be cognizant that there will be additional ice. And if you can stay off the roads, particularly at night, please do so,” she added.
Spanberger also thanked the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia State Police, Virginia National Guard, Virginia Department of Health and other state agencies for their work during the storm.
Dominion Energy said as of Monday morning, due to lower than forecasted ice accumulation, customers in Virginia and northeastern North Carolina experienced fewer power outages than expected.
It added crews and operations centers worked throughout the day Sunday and overnight to restore power to more than 85% of the 48,000 customers impacted by the storm. Dominion was cautioning that strong wind gusts and remaining ice accumulation on trees could cause additional power outages, and encouraged customers to remain prepared by downloading the Dominion Energy mobile app, keeping devices fully charged, and preparing emergency supplies.
Dominion also cautioned to stay away from downed power lines. If you see a downed pole or wire, report it by calling 866-DOM-HELP and stay at least 30 feet away, as the line could be energized and dangerous.
VDOT said road conditions are improving across Virginia, but many secondary and neighborhood roads remain snow and ice-covered.
“Crews will continue working until all state-maintained roads are safe for travel. Thank you for staying off the roads and we appreciate your patience,” VDOT said on its Facebook page.
With temperatures dropping, motorists were advised to use extreme caution if travel is unavoidable, especially on overpasses, bridges, and ramps, which are areas prone to freezing first. Stay up to date with the latest road conditions with VDOT 511.
