10:40 a.m.
Here are some updated unofficial snowfall totals reported this morning by the National Weather Service
Amelia 3
Chesterfield (Brandermill) 3 inches
Caroline 4
Colonial Heights 1.8
Fort Lee 3
Hampton 8
Hanover 3
Langley AFB 6
Norfolk (Willoughby Spit) 10
Portsmouth 10
Powhatan 2
Reedville 6.8
Richmond International Airport 3
Sandston 4.5
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Short Pump 3
Smithfield 6
Virginia Beach 9.8
Wallops 5
Warsaw 4
Williamsburg 4.5
--Staff reports
(This has been a breaking news update. Earlier updates and this morning's story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by staff writer Rex Springston are posted below.)
10:15 a.m.
The snowfall totals fell short of forecasts calling for up to a foot in some parts of Hampton Roads, but not by much.
The National Weather Service said about 10 inches of snow was reported this morning in certain neighborhoods in Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, although most parts of those cities received a few inches less than that. On the Eastern Shore of Virginia, about 7 inches were reported in Accomack County.
At Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, six inches were reported.
The National Weather Service said the Norfolk area averages fewer than three days of snow each winter that result in at least an inch of accumulation. Today marks the fourth day in less than two weeks that at least an inch of snow has fallen.
Many grocery and hardware stores in Hampton Roads were out of snowstorm provisions before nightfall Tuesday after being raided by customers a week earlier for a storm that brought about 3 inches of snow in a much smaller overnight storm.
Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach all declared states of emergency. The move allows them to seek reimbursements for storm-related costs. In Chesapeake, the declaration also meant that tolls were suspended on a bridge and an expressway.
-- The Associated Press
(This has been a breaking news update. Earlier updates and this morning's story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by staff writer Rex Springston are posted below.)
9:15 a.m.
Virginia State Police have responded to 474 vehicle crashes since noon Tuesday, a spokesman said this morning.
In the region that includes the Richmond area, troopers have responded to 336 calls for service that have included 117 crashes and 93 disabled vehicles. Most of the problems have been in the Richmond and Tri-Cities areas.
There have been numerous wrecks across the region this morning. Troopers are still on the scene at nine wrecks, the spokesman said.
(This has been a breaking news update. Earlier updates and this morning's story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by staff writer Rex Springston are posted below.)
8:10 a.m.
Interstate 95 lanes in Chesterfield County near the Woods Edge Road exit (mile marker 57) have reopened this morning after a single tractor-trailer wreck. There were no injuries in the crash that took place just before 2:40 a.m.
(This has been a breaking news update. Earlier updates and this morning's story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by staff writer Rex Springston are posted below.)
7 a.m.
Up to 10 inches of snow has fallen in Virginia's coastal region and more is expected.
The National Weather Service says 10 inches of snow was reported Wednesday morning in a Portsmouth neighborhood and Willoughby Spit, a peninsula near Naval Station Norfolk.
Snow totals in other localities include 5 to 7 inches in Virginia Beach, 4 to 7 inches in Chesapeake and 3 to 6 inches in Hampton.
Residents are urged to stay off the roads. The Virginia Department of Transportation says road conditions in the region are moderate to severe. Major portions of roadway are covered with snow or ice.
Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach have all declared states of emergency. The move allows them to seek reimbursements for storm-related costs.
-- The Associated Press
(This has been a breaking news update. Earlier updates and this morning's story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by staff writer Rex Springston are posted below.)
6:25 a.m.
Virginia State Police troopers have responded to 250 calls for service since 3 p.m. Tuesday in the region including the Richmond area, a spokesman said this morning. The total includes 78 crashes, mostly involving property damage, and 73 disabled vehicles.
Most of the crashes have been in the Richmond and Tri Cities areas.
At this hour, troopers are on the scene of nine crashes involving property damage, and three disabled vehicles.
--Staff reports
(This has been a breaking news update. Earlier updates and this morning's story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by staff writer Rex Springston are posted below.)
6:05 a.m.
Richmond International Airport is reporting 11 cancellations in the early going. A spokesman there reminds travelers to check the status of their flights before heading out. The National Weather Service reports 1.8 inches of snow at the airport.
Elsewhere:
--Virginia Commonwealth University announced this morning that classes will start at 10 a.m.
--Traffic remains slowed on northbound Interstate 95 in Chesterfield County because of an overturned tractor-trailer south of the Woods Edge Road exit (mile marker 57) that is blocking the lanes.
(This has been a breaking news update. Earlier updates and this morning's story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by staff writer Rex Springston are posted below.)
5:50 a.m.
An overturned tractor-trailer is slowing traffic on Interstate 95 northbound in Chesterfield County just south of the Woods Edge Road exit (mile marker 57).
The driver of the 1998 International tractor-trailer lost control and ran off the left side of the interstate and hit the jersey wall shortly before 2:40 a.m., a state police spokesman said. The rig overturned on its side and is blocking the travel lanes.
The driver, a 47-year-old man from West Haven, Conn., was uninjured.
Traffic is light, according to police, and passing the crash scene on the right shoulder as crews work to upright the tractor-trailer and clear the lanes.
An investigation into the wreck is continuing.
-- Staff reports
(This has been a breaking news update. An earlier update and this morning's story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by staff writer Rex Springston are posted below.)
5:40 a.m.
Here are some unofficial snowfall totals reported this morning by the National Weather Service
Amelia 3
Chesterfield (Brandermill) 3 inches
Caroline 4
Colonial Heights 1.8
Fort Lee 2
Langley AFB 6
Norfolk (Willoughby Spit) 10
Portsmouth 10
Powhatan 2
Richmond International Airport 1.8
Sandston 3.5
Short Pump 1
Mechanicsville 2.8
Virginia Beach (Dam Neck) 7
Wallops 4
Williamsburg 4.5
--Staff reports
(This has been a breaking news update. An earlier update and this morning's story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by staff writer Rex Springston are posted below.)
5:15 a.m.
RICHMOND -- Snow closed schools and slowed travel across the Richmond region and a broad swath of southeast Virginia today, with accumulations of about 3 inches reported in the area but nearly a foot in harder-hit Hampton Roads.
On Interstate 95 in Chesterfield, a wreck closed the northbound lanes and traffic was moving by on the left shoulder just south of the Woods Edge exit (mile marker 57).
In downtown Richmond, traffic was flowing normally, though with reduced volume, on Interstate 95.
The snowfall began Tuesday afternoon. Virginia State Police reported that from noon to 10 p.m., troopers in the region that includes Richmond responded to 120 service calls. That included 28 crashes, mostly involving property damage, and 54 disabled vehicles, a spokesman said.
Most of the wrecks occurred in the Richmond and Tri-Cities areas.
-- Staff reports
(This has been a breaking news update. This morning's story by Richmond Times-Dispatch staff writer Rex Springston is posted below.)
Have you heard this one?
Snow is on the ground, schools are closed and Richmonders are enduring temperatures well below freezing.
The National Weather Service said a winter storm that began late Tuesday afternoon in the Richmond area would drop 1 to 3 inches of snow across the region by about 4 a.m. today.
The center of the storm was expected to move northeast just off the Atlantic coast, bringing more snow east of Richmond – including 4 to 11 inches in Williamsburg and 6 to 12 inches in parts of Hampton Roads, the weather service said.
“I've had enough” of winter, said Carrie Campbell of Fredericksburg, whose job brought her to Richmond Tuesday. “I just want to get it over with.”
Following a low around 13 this morning, the temperature should climb only to about 28 this afternoon. The high Tuesday was 27.
The snow and cold could make roads tricky today, said Scott Minnick, a weather service meteorologist. “There will be some slick spots.”
Think twice before driving to the southeast, said David Tolleris, a private weather forecaster in Chester.
“If you have to drive, you have to realize that what you see in Richmond is not what you are going to see” in Franklin, Williamsburg or Hampton Roads, Tolleris said.
The Virginia Department of Transportation has said its goal is to have all state-maintained roads passable within 48 hours after a winter storm.
VDOT asked drivers to delay travel if possible. If you must drive, slow down and give yourself extra time to reach your destination. Potentially icy spots include bridges, overpasses and shady areas.
The Richmond area shouldn’t see any appreciable melting until Thursday, which should be sunny with a high around 35. After that, we are looking at highs around 48 on Friday, 52 on Saturday and 46 on Sunday.
Not everyone is fed up with the cold. Dirk Swinehart of Mechanicsville, who grew up near Kalamazoo, Mich., said winter is OK if you dress for it.
“I'd rather have that than heat in the summer,” Swinehart said, “because there are only so many clothes you can take off, but you can always put more clothes on if you're cold.”
The current cold snap follows one Jan. 7 and 8, when the low hit 10 and 13, and another last week, which produced 2 to 3 inches of snow and below-zero wind chills. Local public schools closed four days last week.
What were the experts expecting this time around? Here are some predictions at mid-day Tuesday:
Minnick, of the weather service, said most of the metro area should get 1 to 2 inches, with perhaps 2 to 4 inches in southern Chesterfield County.
New Kent and Charles City counties should get 2 to 4 inches, James City County 4 to 6 and Hampton Roads 8 to 14, Minnick said.
Andrew Freiden of WWBT (Channel 12) called for 2 to 4 inches in the metro area with 4 to 7 to the south and east. He added that there could be “higher totals”, particularly east of the metro area.
Tolleris, the private forecaster, predicted 3 to 6 inches for eastern Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield, 3 inches downtown and 2 to 4 inches in the western parts of the region.
Tolleris predicted 3 to 6 inches in Charles City and New Kent counties, 6 to 10 in Williamsburg and 12 to 14 in southern Hampton Roads.
At WRIC (Channel 8), Tim Pandajis provided a map that showed 1 to 2 inches in the Richmond area, 2 to 4 inches just to the east and 6 to 9 inches along the coast.
At WTVR (Channel 6), Mike Goldberg forecast 1 to 3 inches for the Richmond area, 6 to 9 inches from Franklin to Williamsburg and perhaps a foot in parts of Hampton Roads.
rspringston@timesdispatch.com(804) 649-6453
Staff writer Brandon Shulleeta contributed to this report.
