The VA. Statewide Tornado Drill was today 3/8
Severe weather week continues today Mar. 8 with the annual statewide tornado drill which was held at 9:45 a.m..
The National Weather Service (NWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) clarifies that a tornado watch means a tornado is possible a warning means to take action and take shelter immediately.
It is a good idea to have a plan ahead of time.
You will want to identify safe rooms or protective locations in your home, school or business.
Try to implement an emergency communication plan for you and your family.
You are encouraged to have an emergency kit at the ready with a checklist available at vaemergency.gov along with additional information.
There were 87 tornadoes recorded in 2004 and 25 recorded in 2017.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
It is Severe Weather Awareness Week VA. 3/7-3/11
Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) announced that it is severe weather awareness week.
This is a week designed to refresh, remind and educate citizens about seasonal threats from severe weather.
It is also a good time to make and practice your own emergency plan.
The VDEM and National Weather Service team up to promote severe weather awareness during the week.
Social media pages from VDEM will have information and ways to stay safe in the advent of severe weather all week.
Today Mon. Mar. 7 the focus is on Watches vs. Warnings.
Tomorrow Tue. Mar. 8 the annual statewide tornado drill will be held at 9:45 a.m..
Wed. Mar. 9 is focused on Severe Thunderstorms, Hail and Wind.
Thur. Mar. 10 the focus will be Flash Flooding preparation.
Fri. Mar.11 the focus will be on Lighting Awareness.
During the annual Tornado Drill Tues. all schools, businesses and families are encouraged to participate in the drill.
There will not be an alert tone Tues. but the drill alert will be broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio along with a monthly test alert on local radio stations.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
News Maker Kemp Miller on valley weather
In an email Governor Youngkin declared a state of emergency in advance of today’s Jan. 28’s storm.
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) confirmed in an email it has begun treating roads.
Schools have dismissed early Jan. 28 too.
We spoke with Meteorologist Kemper Miller about the storm and what will happen in our area in our latest news maker.
The good news is brought to you by The Town of Front Royal.
Kemp explains what we will likely receive this weekend Jan. 28-30 and that it will get cold.
He also explains why the valley is so hard to predict weather for.
Kemp offers an interesting Weatherwise podcast the first Monday of each month right here.
Click here for Kemp’s interview.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
VSP are having a busy snow day
An email from Virginia State Police (VSP) Public Relations Coordinator Shelby Crouch reports the accident situation regarding the inclement weather.
As of 9 o’clock last night Troopers have responded to 482 traffic crashes and 486 disabled vehicles in Virginia.
Most of the accidents have involved only damage with no reported traffic fatalities.
With the wind and refreezing State Police and other authorities still recommended caution when traveling and not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
SVEC restore power
An email from Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC) reports that only about 19 members lost power in yesterday’s storm.
If you are still without power SVEC assures members that it will be restored today as crews deal with the weather as best and safely as they can.
Often the type of snow can make all the differences when it comes to power loss.
The heavy type of wet snow lays heavy on lines and tree limbs which can often cause an outage.
A lighter snow like last night causes less damage but the ice will cause concern especially when it comes to repair.
Anyone without power should always report it at SVEC.coop.
You can also connect easily to SVEC with the MySVEC app now available.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
VDOT and other authorities advise caution for travel all day 1/17
In an email from Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) the authority thanks Virginians for heeding the message and staying off the roads.
After about 5 to 8 inches of snow then frozen precipitation fell we now have a glaze of ice on top of the snow in the Shenandoah Valley.
The snow coupled with a wind advisory until 8 p.m. tonight Jan. 17 any unfrozen snow will blow back over already plowed roads.
With that, caution is still advised if you have to travel wait as late in the day as you can.
Know before you go with up to the minute road information is always available at 511virginia.org.
VDOT’s snow emergency page is available at VDOT’s website under the travel center portion of the website for pertinent information for Clarke, Frederick, Page and other Counties in the Stauton District.
VDOT has approximately 900 pieces of equipment working 24/7 to treat the roads please give them room to work.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Gov. Northam declares a state of emergency ahead of Sun. 1/16 storm
An email from Gov. Northam confirms a state of emergency has been declared ahead of this Sun. Jan 16 storm.
Emergency services, Virginia State Police, Power Providers have all confirmed by email and social post that they are fully prepared for the impending storm.
The winter storm watch is posted for Sunday afternoon into Monday morning with 6 to 12 inches possible by Monday morning’s Jan. 17’s Federal Holiday.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has confirmed in a social post that they have already begun pre-treating the roads.
Motorist are asked not to travel especially during the heaviest snow fall likely Sunday afternoon Jan. 16 unless absolutely necessary.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Agencies across Virginia prepare for possible snow
An email from Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC) reminds member owners to prepare now ahead of the projected snow this weekend which looks to impact Jan.16 and 17.
SVEC suggest fully charging devices, prepare a home outage kit with flashlights, blankets, canned and packaged food and batteries.
For the ease of reporting an outage SVEC suggest you download the mysvec app on your phone.
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative offers a storm preparation information page here.
The City of Winchester offered this page to prepare you for the possible Sun. storm in an email.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) offers advice for winter weather as well at their website here.
Tracking of the potential for the weather is available here from the National Weather Service.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
REC has restored 98% of the outages caused by the storm
An email from Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) confirms that the Cooperative has fully restored 98 percent of the outages caused by last week’s storm.
The amount of broken poles needing replacement has risen to almost 600.
More 1,200 field workers continue to work through the more than foot of heavy snow that downed thousands of trees in some locations.
The widespread damage to the power grid is expected to be completely fixed no later then Thurs. Jan. 13.
A restoration timeline and crew progress continues to be posted at myrec.coop.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
VDOT issues an advisory for today 1/10
An email from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is once again this morning Jan. 10 warning drivers to drive with caution.
VDOT crews continue to treat icy spots on roads across the state with salt and ice melt and will do so until roads are deemed safe.
Caution is advised and monitoring roads at 511virginia.org before departure is prudent before temperatures rise to help melt the ice.
However temperatures today are not projected to be much higher then freezing so ice is likely to continue to be a problem especially in shady spots, overpasses and bridges.
You can report hazardous road conditions at VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-FOR-ROADS (800-367-7623) or visit my.vdot.virginia.gov.
In the meantime allow plenty of room between vehicles, break lightly and don’t pass snowplows.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.