Live blog: Updates as Hampton Roads, NE North Carolina region sees second significant snow of January

Say it ain't snow! Here we go again, Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore and northeast North Carolina are all seeing snow again, after a significant amount fell last week.

A Blizzard Warning is in effect for the Eastern Shore area including Accomack and Northampton counties, A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Hampton, Poquoson, York, Gloucester, Mathews, and Currituck and A Winter Weather Advisory has also been issued for inland locations and the Outer Banks.

Rain is turning to snow for most of us Friday night and then snow will continue through Saturday morning, tapering off from west to east around midday. Most of the area will see 2” to 4” of accumulation with higher totals near the Chesapeake Bay and on the Eastern Shore. It will be very windy on Saturday, north to NW at 20 to 30 with gusts to 40+ mph. We will see some coastal/tidal flooding on Saturday, especially near the Saturday morning high tide.

Areas seeing snow:

Road & Toll Closings

Update from the City of Chesapeake:

Tolls on the Chesapeake Expressway and the Dominion Blvd. Veterans Bridge are reinstated as of 3 p.m. Saturday.

Flight Cancellations

Norfolk International Airport has canceled several flights as snow falls in our area.

Below you will see the most recent updates from cities in our area and on weather/road conditions, with the most recent at the top of the list:

As of 8:15 p.m., Dominion Energy says power has been restored to all but 26 customers.

Update from the City of Suffolk (5 p.m.):

There are no current alerts for Suffolk from the National Weather Service. However, due to low temperatures in the teens tonight along with below freezing wind chills, there could still be isolated icy spots on some roadways. Motorists as asked to limit travel to needed trips only.

Suffolk Public Works will remain on 12 hour shifts until midnight tonight into Sunday morning. At that time, they will transition to reduced response crews at each zone until 8 a.m., Sunday, January 30^th. Beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday, staff will return to regular on-call coverage.

As of 2 p.m. this afternoon, Public Works staff have used approximately 469 tons of abrasives on City roadways. Roads were reported to be clear and drying with some drifting spots that crews are watching.

To report roadway issues, citizens can contact Public Works at 757-514-7600 until midnight tonight. After midnight, citizens can call Non-Emergency Dispatch at 757-923-2350, Option 8 to report any roadway hazards.

As noted in a media release earlier today, City of Suffolk facilities with regular Sunday operating hours will be open tomorrow, Sunday, January 30, 2022. Those facilities include the Suffolk Visitor Center, Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, Suffolk Art Gallery, and the Suffolk Executive Airport.

For after hours requests for emergency Public Utilities Services, residents can call 757-514-7000 (broken water pipes, etc.).

If you need to report a power outage, the contact information for utility companies is as follows,

Dominion Energy – Virginia, call 1-866-366-4357

Community Electric Cooperative, call 757-242-6181.

Update from the Virginia Department of Transportation (4:30 p.m.):

Hampton Roads is in for a bitterly cold night, when travel will be treacherous.

Regardless of a road’s condition earlier today, below-freezing temperatures and high winds tonight will create an environment prime for roadway refreezing and/or snow drifting. Motorists must continue to stay off the roads through Sunday morning, at the earliest, to allow crews to do their jobs safely and efficiently.

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews will be stationed across the district overnight, prepared to respond to slick spots caused by refreezing using salt and sand. Remember, with tonight’s expected low temperatures in the teens, wet spots on the roadways should be considered ice and deemed hazardous to motorists.

As of Saturday afternoon, state-maintained interstate and primary routes in the district were mostly clear following plowing operations. VDOT crews also made significant progress on the Eastern Shore, where total snow accumulation reached 10 inches.

Tonight, crews on the Eastern Shore will continue to plow state-maintained roads, followed by salt application. As of Saturday afternoon, state-maintained primaries and secondaries in this area were in moderate condition, with some snow remaining on most roads.

The department will also be monitoring snow drifting in the area, which can cause even newly plowed roads to be completely re-covered in snow. Due to significant snow accumulation, the overnight refreeze will be particularly treacherous along Eastern Shore routes.

Motorists are reminded that bridges and overpasses freeze before roads, and caution should be exercised if travel is absolutely necessary. Continue to monitor changing weather and road conditions throughout the duration of the inclement weather.

If travel is unavoidable:

• Visit www.511Virginia.org for the latest road conditions before traveling. If possible, avoid travel until precipitation stops and road conditions improve.
• Give crews time and space to treat roads.
• Remove snow and ice from vehicles before traveling.
• If you must travel during adverse weather conditions:
• Allow plenty of time to reach your destination
• Keep a safe distance of at least five seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you
• Brake very lightly to keep your tires from slipping on pavement
• Do not crowd or pass snowplows
• Keep an emergency winter weather kit in your vehicle which includes food, water, first aid materials, tools and blankets in the event of a breakdown or stoppage.

Resources:

• Free 511 Virginia Tools – Get the latest traffic conditions before traveling by calling 511, or go to www.511virginia.org. You also can download Virginia’s free 511 mobile app at https://www.virginiadot.org/travel/511.asp. 
• 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) – Report road hazards or ask road-related questions at VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center by calling this statewide toll-free number.
• Twitter – Follow us @VaDOTHR and @511hamptonroads for the latest traffic updates during a storm.
• WAZE – VDOT recently partnered with Waze to add a new feature to the navigation software app that allows users to report, in real-time during winter weather, when a road has not been plowed. It will also inform travelers when they are approaching a road that has been identified by other drivers as unplowed.

For more winter driving information, please visit virginiadot.org/travel/snow.asp.

Update from the City of Virginia Beach:

The City of Virginia Beach will move from essential to modified operations at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 30. All city offices and facilities are closed today, Jan. 29.

Closings and Delayed Openings on Sunday, Jan. 30

• The Virginia Aquarium will open at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 30.
• Rec centers will remain closed on Sunday, Jan. 30 due to icy road conditions in neighborhoods.
• Virginia Beach Public Library locations are closed, as usual on Sundays.
• City parks will remain closed on Sunday, Jan. 30.
• The Thoroughgood House will be closed on Sunday, Jan. 30.
• Hampton Roads Transit will resume regular service at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 30. Services will include local bus, The Tide light rail, Elizabeth River Ferry and paratransit services. HRT will operate a normal Sunday schedule. Expect possible delays as operators navigate their routes. For more information, please visit gohrt.com or call 757-222-6100.    

City officials are monitoring road conditions and urge residents to watch out for icy roads and slippery parking lots. City crews are busy, clearing and treating roadways and City facility parking lots for anticipated overnight refreezing. Temperatures are expected to plunge into the teens overnight into tomorrow, with wind chills in the low single digits.

Reminders

• No sledding at Mount Trashmore and at any other City property for the safety reasons.
• Downed Trees blocking City streets: call 311 (landlines within city limits) or 385-3111.
• If you lose power, call Dominion Power at 1-866-366-4357. 
• Reserve 911 for true emergencies. For other inquiries, call 311.
• Keep off Ice — Ice-covered waters are unsafe. Take care of the children in your lives by keeping them away from any lakes, ponds, canals, etc. Likewise, all adults should keep watch over waters in their neighborhoods to keep children and pets away. Normal ice thickness in the Hampton Roads area will not support the weight of even a small child or pet. 
• Prevent Frozen Pipes by keeping a steady drip of water flowing from the highest faucet in your home. (Using cold instead of hot water will save you money on your energy bill.) When plumbing is near an outside wall, open cabinet doors under sinks so room heat can reach the pipes. Locate your private water shut-off valve so you’ll be prepared to turn your water off if your pipes do freeze and burst. If you’ve got water pouring out of your ceiling, you don’t want to have to wait even a few minutes for Public Utilities or a plumber to respond to shut off your water.

If Your Pipes Freeze:

• Turn your water off at the private water shut-off valve (see below).
• Never try to thaw frozen pipes with an open flame or any electrical appliance. It’s dangerous and could damage your pipes.
• Be prepared for possible leaks as the pipes thaw.

Finding Your Private Water Shut-Off Valve

The location of the shut-off valve varies, but all buildings less than 30 years old have one. Likely locations for the private water shut-off valve include:

• Close to an outside hose bib, where the water supply pipe enters your home. The valve will be located inside a box or pipe in the ground, several feet from the exterior of your home.
• Near your water heater, or under a vanity cabinet or kitchen sink, particularly if you live in a townhouse, condominium, or apartment.
• On the wall in your garage, particularly in newer homes.

Keep Your Pets Warm

Winter weather can be brutal on pets. It is a common misunderstanding that furry animals are able to stay warm in cold weather. Call 757-385-5000 to report unattended pets left outside.

STAY INFORMED

Keep aware of emergency messaging by local officials posted on VBgov.com, Facebook.com/CityofVaBeach, Twitter.com/CityofVaBeach, Nextdoor and VBTV. Also, tune into your local TV and radio stations.

If you need help, information or resources before, during or after the storm, call 311. Only call 911 for emergencies. Those with hearing impairments can call 711 for the Virginia Relay Center.

Winter storm emergency preparedness information and all news releases are available at emergency.vbgov.com/winter-storm-january-2022. For more information about preparedness, visit VBgov.com/beprepared, Ready.gov and VAemergency.gov.

Update from the City of Chesapeake (3 p.m.):

Road Treatment: Public Works will continue to treat icy spots on roadways as needed throughout the weekend. Black ice will be a concern, particularly on bridges, overpasses, shaded areas, and in southern Chesapeake where snow is blowing off the fields and back onto treated roadways. Motorists should continue to use caution.

Tolls Reinstated: Tolls on the Chesapeake Expressway and the Dominion Blvd Veterans Bridge are reinstated as of 3 p.m. Saturday.

Preventative Tips:

Frozen Pipes: Avoid frozen pipes by dripping your faucets overnight, opening cabinet doors under your sink to allow the heat from the room to reach the pipes, or by following any of these other preventative tips. If your pipes have frozen, you might not notice until they start to thaw out as temperatures go up. If you think you might have a frozen pipe, turn off your water at your home shut-off valve and call Public Utilities at 757-382-3550.

Power Outages: The heavy snow could lead to power outages. Take precautions for power outages and report them Dominion Energy by calling 1-866-366-4357, through their website, or download the Dominion Energy app.

Staying Warm: If you’re going to be outside, limit your time and dress in layers. Know the signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Plan for where you’d go if your power goes out during freezing temperatures for an extended period and you need a place to warm up.

From the City of Suffolk:

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