Chilling Weather Alert: Icy Roads Ahead in the Shenandoah Valley After a Snowy Spell!

STAUNTON – Significant winter weather is expected to hit the Shenandoah Valley and Alleghany Highlands on Sunday, January 19, followed by several days of severe cold.

Crews and contractors from the Virginia Department of Transportation Staunton District will observe, plow, and treat roads as necessary. Travelers should keep in mind that salt becomes less effective on roadways when temperatures fall below 20 degrees. Streets that have been plowed or treated may still have icy patches.

For unpaved roads, sand and gravel are utilized to enhance traction, particularly on compacted snow or ice. Compacted snow and ice could persist on the roadway during extreme cold temperatures.

Bridges and overpasses will freeze first. The public should also stay vigilant for falling tree branches and debris on roadways due to heavy wet snow or ice.

Travel plans should be made to occur before or after these dangerous conditions.

Stay updated with the weather forecast closely, as weather patterns can shift. Likewise, keep track of the weather along any travel route for potential changes as conditions can differ significantly across the state of Virginia.

The VDOT Staunton District serves the counties of Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany, and Bath.

Road-clearing priorities are as follows: 

• The Interstate Highway System and limited-access roads take our top priority.
• Primary roads and major secondary routes with essential emergency and public facilities, or those with high traffic volumes, will be cleared alongside interstate and limited-access roads as resources permit.
• Low-volume secondary roads and neighborhood streets will be addressed after higher-priority routes have been completed and additional resources are available.

For updates, check 511 at its updated URL and website: https://511.vdot.virginia.gov/. The 511 site features traffic cameras, current crash sites, weather conditions, and more. The public can subscribe to 511 alerts to receive notifications on their personal devices. On the VDOT 511 site, roads affected by snow and ice will be categorized as minor, moderate, severe, or closed.

Definitions of road conditions:
Closed – Road is not accessible to any traffic.
Severe – drifting or partially blocked road.
Moderate – snow or ice present on significant sections of the roadway. 
Minor – clear pavement except for isolated patches of snow, ice, or slush. Caution is advised while driving.

Another source of information can be found on the VDOT website at https://www.vdot.virginia.gov. Enter “winter weather” in the search bar located in the middle of the homepage. Follow the links to the winter page for driving advice, snow removal protocols, travel kit items, and other resources.

To view a text-based listing of weather road conditions, visit https://511.vdot.virginia.gov/. Look at the blue bar at the top of the page, click on “Road Reports,” and then select “Road Conditions.” Check the dropdown box that lists all jurisdictions. Individual counties can be chosen for viewing. Apps for Virginia’s 511 system are also accessible for Android and iOS devices.

The VDOT Customer Service Center can be reached through its mobile-friendly site at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/. Agents are available 24/7 throughout the year to assist the public. Individuals can also reach the VDOT Customer Service Center at 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623).

The Staunton District X (Twitter) feed can be found at @VaDOTStaunton. The VDOT Staunton District also has a group page on Facebook. Follow VDOT’s statewide accounts on Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube.

Statewide VDOT X feeds can be found at @VaDOT. The nine districts include: Hampton Roads @VaDOTHR; Richmond @VaDOTRVA; Northern Virginia @VaDOTNOVA; Fredericksburg @VaDOTFred; Culpeper @VaDOTCulp; Lynchburg @VaDOTLynchburg; Bristol @VaDOTBristol; Salem @VaDOTSalem; and Staunton @VaDOTStaunton.

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