As the first snow event of the season approaches, Roanoke and New River Valley residents are stocking up on the essentials. Forecasters are closely watching a system moving east through Tennessee and has placed most of Southwest Virginia under a Winter Weather Advisory beginning Friday, January 6 at 7pm and ending Saturday, January 7 at 7pm.
Winter Storm Helena is expected to dump 1-4 inches and 3-5 inches in the Roanoke City, Roanoke and Bedford Counties respectively.
Southside, friends in Danville, Martinsville and Southeastern portions of Virginia can expect to see 4-6 inches and 5-8 inches of snow.
The chance of snow in the Roanoke Valley is 90%. Snowfall is expected to start around 10pm.
As always, the best safe driving technique for Winter Weather is to AVOID driving. Stock up on your groceries, medications, and other necessities. Get a Redbox, pop some popcorn and plan to stay in and watch the snowfall from your window.
If you have to go out, keep these winter safety tips from AAA in mind:
- Avoid driving while fatigued. Slick spots
and slippery roads and bridges are
common in winter and an alert driver
is needed to react to these hazards. - Do not “warm-up” your car in an
enclosed area. - Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
- Keep your gas tank at least half-full.
- Do not use Cruise Control on potentially slick roads.
- Use your seatbelt and child restraints if applicable.
It is also recommended that drivers carry a “Winter Survival Kit” in their vehicles if they have to travel on potentially dangerous roadways. The kit should include:
- a fully charged cell phone
- blankets
- gloves
- hats
- snow boots
- water
- needed medication
- ice scraper
- snow shovel
- brightly colored rag to use a signal if necessary
In Southwest and Central Virginia we have many isolated rural routes. Many of these less-traveled country roads have significant cliff drop-offs and embankments that may not be adequately protected by guardrails. Therefore, it is wise to take extreme caution when traveling these routes as help may not be able to locate you easily if you slide off of one of these roads in slick conditions.
Stay safe out there!
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident that was not their fault, call The Thomson Law Firm for a free consultation today. An intake specialist is ready to talk with you about your potential case. The Thomson Law Firm handles personal injury cases including:
- Defective or Unsafe Products
- Premises Liability
- Workplace Injuries
- Child Injury and Abuse
- Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
- Dog Attacks and Bites
- Automobile, Semi, and Motorcycle Accidents
- Medical Malpractice
- Drunk Driving Injuries
- Wrongful Death
Call today for a FREE consultations (540) 777-4900.
