CULPEPER — The Virginia Department of Transportation is preparing for a winter storm that is forecast to bring sleet and freezing rain to much of western and northwestern Virginia. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for much of the Piedmont region, where precipitation is predicted to begin Wednesday evening and continue through the morning Thursday. Freezing rain is forecast to cause icy roads during the Thursday morning commuting hours.
Do not travel during this storm. Anyone on the road before the storm arrives on Wednesday should monitor local weather forecasts and road conditions and drive with extreme caution as conditions will deteriorate quickly as air temperatures fall below freezing. Pavement temperatures are also expected to drop, with significant ice accumulations up to one-quarter inch forecast through Thursday morning. Icy conditions will occur first on bridges, overpasses, ramps and in shaded areas.
VDOT is mobilizing resources to prepare for the storm. In the nine counties of the Culpeper District crews will be on duty overnight on Wednesday and will begin spreading salt and sand to improve traction and melt ice after precipitation begins. Since the storm is forecast to begin as rain brine will not be used for this event since the rain will wash it off the road, rendering it ineffective.
Safety and Travel Resources
When winter weather arrives, residents and motorists should plan travel ahead of time, check road conditions,prepare an emergency car kit, follow forecasts and announcements and limit travel based on conditions.
Prior to travel, motorists should visit 511.vdot.virginia.gov, call 511 or check the 511 Virginia mobile app for up-to-date information on road and traffic conditions. Remember to check conditions along your entire travel route as conditions may change in other regions of the state.
Local updates about conditions in VDOT’s Culpeper District are posted to X.com/VaDOTCulp and theCulpeper District Facebook page. Visit VDOT’s winter weather page for more information about winter weather preparations and response.
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VDOT’s nine-county Culpeper District includes the counties of Albemarle, Culpeper, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock. The independent city of Charlottesville maintains its own roads.
