STATEWIDE — Gov. Glenn Youngkin has declared a State of Emergency ahead of two winter storms expected to impact the area beginning today (Thurs., Jan. 20).
The winter storms are expected to have the most impact on the Hampton Roads and Central Virginia communities.
“I am declaring a state of emergency today to aid in the response to the impending winter weather and to provide additional resources to address potentially high snow accumulations, transportation issues, and the potential for power outages,” said Governor Youngkin. “I urge all Virginians to monitor their local weather forecasts and take personal safety precautions to ensure their safety and the safety of their families.”
The U.S. National Weather Service in Wakefield, Va. (NWS Wakefield) has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for today (Jan. 20). Rain is expected to change into snow tonight, with some parts of the area seeing between 1-2 inches.
NWS Wakefield has also issued a Winter Storm Watch for southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina for Friday (Jan. 21) through the following day. This storm is expected to have a significant round of snow, with the Historic Triangle possibly seeing 3-4 inches.
The Virginia Department of Transportation Hampton Roads (VDOT-HR) began pretreating roadways on Wednesday (Jan. 19). However, VDOT-HR advises residents to stay off the roadways as much as possible, particularly Friday and Saturday.
If residents do have to travel, the Virginia State Police wants to remind motorists of the following precautions:
- Clear off all snow from your vehicle including windows, roof, trunk, and lights
- Add extra time to reach any necessary travel destinations
- Use a slow speed while on roadways
- Increase distances between vehicles
- Move over for all stopped emergency and highway vehicles
- Buckle up and don’t drive distracted
The Governor’s State of Emergency declaration remains in effect through Sunday, Jan. 23.
For the latest forecasted information, please visit the website for NWS Wakefield. To stay up-to-date on the latest road conditions, please visit the website for 511Virginia.org.