ROANOKE, Va. – UPDATE - Saturday 5 P.M.
The Weather Authority Alert Day issued for Jan. 6 due to a winter storm across Southwest and Central Virginia has been lifted.
UPDATE - SATURDAY 3 P.M.
See an update from Meteorologist Marshall Downing in our 3 p.m. Appcast below.
Update - Saturday 1:30 PM
Rain and snow fell through the morning, and with some cold temperatures we saw ice building up. Some locations got more than a quarter inch making getting around tricky.
Warmer temperatures are helping to melt some ice or at least prevent freezing rain. By 4:00 PM some of the system moves northeast and we stay dry through the evening and into Sunday.
There are some light snow showers in store in the Highlands Sunday morning, but most of us stay rather dry. Roads are better through the night, but with some lows dropping below freezing be careful of ice on Sunday morning.
Monday gives us a short break from the rain, but on Tuesday even more comes our way which could cause flooding across the region. Keep up to date with us online and on-air as this next system approaches.
UPDATE - SATURDAY 2:30 A.M.
A wintry mix is starting to move into the southern Blue Ridge.
[Follow along with the latest radar here.]
Tune into our live team coverage from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday.
Once the storm passes, there will be residual snow Sunday. Most of this falls on the western slopes, though some scattered bursts of snow and flurries will make it into areas west of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
UPDATE - FRIDAY 10 P.M.
See an update from Chief Meteorologist Jeff Haniewich in our 10 p.m. Appcast below.
WATCH LIVE | APPCASTA wintry mess is headed our way late tonight into tomorrow. Jeff Haniewich WSLS 10 News joins us now to let you know what you can expect in your backyard and when precipitation will begin.
Posted by WSLS 10 / WSLS.com on Friday, January 5, 2024
UPDATE - FRIDAY AFTERNOON
Freezing rain and snow arrive after midnight tonight. The clouds that built up slowly during the day will continue to build overnight, but we will stay dry until the early morning hours of Saturday.
Once that system arrives it starts as rain for most of us. Cold surface temperatures in the NRV, Roanoke, and Lynchburg zones mean freezing rain through the morning.
Snow is more likely in the Highlands thanks to colder temperatures higher in the atmosphere. The snow is likely paired with ice on the ground so still be extra careful anytime you’re outdoors.
Temperatures only reach the mid-to-upper 30s for highs. That’s enough to help with some melting, but given that lows are back in the 20s for many of us some additional freezing is possible Saturday night.
UPDATE - 4:45 A.M. FRIDAY
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for areas along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is where most ice is forecast to accumulate.
Outside of that, Winter Weather Advisories are in place for areas that will see some ice before changing to rain. Most snow will be near and north of I-64.
Keep reading below for more details on our forecast.
UPDATE - 10:00 P.M. THURSDAY
Clouds begin building up on Friday which leads to our rain, ice, and snow on Saturday. Ice is most likely in our Winter Storm Watch; right now that includes the Roanoke, Lynchburg, and NRV zones.
The Winter Storm Watch lasts through Friday night into Saturday evening. Most of the rain and snow hold off until just before sunrise on Saturday. Even if your county is not in the watch be careful of possible ice on Saturday.
Clouds build on Friday with some sunshine during the day. Even overnight as clouds continue to build we stay dry until beyond midnight.
Rain spreads north and east as Saturday morning continues. The first drops fall around 3:00 a.m. with wide coverage by 5:00 a.m. Temperatures stay cool enough for freezing rain to be a possibility through noon.
UPDATE - 3:00 P.M. THURSDAY
A Winter Storm Watch was issued for our area around 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
There are no startling changes in the data or our line of thinking for Saturday.
This update is to set some expectations for the upcoming storm. See the graphic below, and read the sections below for more on the timing and totals.
That said, it would be best to stay off the roads through at least midday Saturday if at all possible.
UPDATE - 3:30 A.M. THURSDAY
We’re now at the point in which forecast data has become more detailed, meaning we can show hour-by-hour projections of Saturday’s winter storm.
We start the day out with the worst of the storm - ice and snow to the north. As the day progresses, ice and rain will continue before shifting east of the area around/prior to sunset Saturday.
If you’re looking for a widespread snowstorm, this storm likely won’t be it. Warmer air above the surface is infiltrating the system, leading to more of a mixed bag event.
Keep reading to see our projected ice and snow totals for Saturday’s storm.
UPDATE - 3:15 P.M. WEDNESDAY
We are releasing our first-call ice and snow maps for the winter storm that comes on Saturday. Understand that these may be tweaked in the coming days. Everything below this section is still relevant.
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Warm air above us will likely lead to ice spreading from south to north Saturday morning into the afternoon. Any place that sees 0.25″ of ice will be vulnerable to potential power outages Saturday morning into the early afternoon hours.
A difference of a degree or two above could lead to snow or sleet too, meaning light accumulations could still happen south of I-64. The better chance of accumulating snow and sleet will be along and north of that point.
UPDATE - 11 A.M. WEDNESDAY
10 News has issued a Weather Authority Alert Day for a winter storm that moves in Saturday, January 6.
[PIN YOUR PICS whenever you see snow, ice and/or rain with Saturday’s storm]
A storm with a lot of moisture will be riding up the East Coast, giving us the chance for accumulations of snow, ice and rain.
The location of each will depend on the exact placement of the storm.
Recent forecast data has shown the track of the storm going farther north, meaning that the greater potential for snow will be north of the Roanoke Valley.
While the Roanoke Valley and New River Valley may see a brief period of snow Saturday morning, we’re more concerned about ice before changing to rain during the evening.
Either way, we’re looking at canceled plans and hazardous road conditions.
The snow and/or ice could contribute to power outages, especially for those of us that see a quarter of an inch of ice or more.