Blue Ridge Life™2013 – Photo By Stephanie Martin : This is what Route 29 North near Amherst, VA looked like Friday afternoon – January 25, 2013.
Amherst
Amherst County, VA
As predicted, another round of light snow moved into Central Virginia around noon Friday. By far the heavier amounts by mid afternoon were in the southern tier of counties toward Lynchburg and points south. Amounts have been generally light, but with days of freezing temps it didn’t take much for the snow to start sticking easily. That created a few traffic problems across the area. Many schools either cancelled classes altogether on Friday or had a shortened schedule.
The weekend remains cold, but a significant warmup is headed our way early next week with chances for plain old rain.
Photo By Don Rich – Crozet, VA: By far the larger amounts of snow fell to the east of the Blue Ridge Parkway this time, somewhat unusual. In Crozet about 2″ fell, to the NE in Greene County, between 3-4″ was reported by people living there.
Another round of snow or winter precipitation is in the forecast for Friday.
Photo Courtesy of Don Rich – Zestivities : With all of the sub freezing temps lately it’s no surprise the paddle wheel in the Wild Wolf Center in Nellysford has a little ice going on! Don Rich owner of Zestivities next door to Wild Wolf Brewing sent us this shot Wednesday afternoon – January 23, 2013
Another very cold start to the day! Wednesday morning – January 23, 2013 – temps were once again in the single digits, 4° on the mountain at Wintergreen as seen left above from our station at The Wintergreen Nature Foundation compared to a balmy 11° here at BRLM just north of Nellysford in Nelson County, VA
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
Once again the Central Virginia Blue Ridge awoke in the deep freeze for the second morning in a row. Single digits were common in the higher elevations along the Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline Drive.
In the valley portions of the area temps dropped to around 10-12° overnight.
“Farther east, the area from the northern Shenandoah Valley and Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Atlantic City, N.J., and Dover, Del., lie in a swath where a few inches of snow could fall. In other words, perhaps enough to shovel and plow.”
Photo Via Devils Backbone: Devils Backbone Brewing Company’s Packaging and Bottling Hall at the Outpost Brewery in Lexington, VA
Lexington
Rockbridge, VA
“It was our intention in mid-year 2012 to expand our distribution to the entire state of Virginia but our sales beat our forecast in our preliminary roll out markets by more than 60% to an annualized production rate of 10,000 barrels. Late in 2012 we purchased an additional six 120 barrel fermenters to add to our cellar and take our production capacity to 21,000.00. This additional capacity will allow us to complete our state wide distribution goals. As lifelong Virginians, it is with great excitement that we can now offer our award winning beers to craft beer lovers in Norfolk and Virginia Beach”, said Steve Crandall, founder of Devils Backbone Brewing Company.
Devils Backbone Brewing Company, based in Nelson County, Virginia has become one of the most award winning breweries in the United States. The phenomenal rise of this brewery in just a few short years, is unique in the craft brewing industry. The success of Devils Backbone Brewing Company can be directly related to its industry eclipsing accomplishments in creating internationally acclaimed beers. Since opening its “Basecamp Brewpub” in 2008 at the foot of Wintergreen Mountain in Nelson County and then their production facility the “Outpost” in 2012 in Lexington Virginia, the consistent quality of their beers has propelled their company into a leadership position in Virginia. In 4 years, their prestigious collection of awards includes seventeen Great American Beer Festival medals and five World Beer Cup awards. Devils Backbone has also been recognized internationally at the 2010World Beer Cup as Champion Brewery and Small Brewpub and most recently as the Small Brewpub and Small Brew Pub Brewer of the Year at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival. Their brew master, Jason Oliver has 16 years of brewing experience and holds an international accreditation in brewing science.
“It is hard to explain how monumental these awards are in the brewing industry and they highlight the amazing good fortune and talent of our Brewers and staff at Devils Backbone Brewing Company” said Crandall. We are rolling out with our draft beer mid- February and then with our six packs in March. We look forward to meeting many of the craft beer advocates in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach areas and having our world class craft beer in bars, restaurants and retail locations throughout the region.
Blue Ridge Life™2013 : A comparison of temperatures early Tuesday morning, January 22, 2013 around sunrise. On the left a very cold 5° from our BRL Weather Station at The Wintergreen Nature Foundation at 3500 feet. On the right a milder 20° here at BRL Hdq in the Rockfish Valley of Nelson County, VA
Central Virginia Blue Ridge As Tommy talked about in his weather cast for Tuesday, the brutally cold temps have arrived across the Blue Ridge. Single digit lows were common Tuesday morning along the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, with wind chills around 10 below 0 in the higher elevations. In the valley portions of the area both east and west of the BRP and Skyline teens to near 20° were common readings as people awoke on Tuesday morning.
Temps Tuesday won’t break freezing and Tuesday night’s lows will be even colder.
A chance for wintry precip is likely by late Thursday night into Friday.
Via winderground.com : Brutally cold temperatures, the coldest of the season, will settle over the Central Virginia Blue Ridge as early as Tuesday morning. The coldest morning appears to be Wednesday when valley temps will be around 10-12° with mountain and parkway temps in the single digits.
Central Virginia Blue Ridge Area
Including Nelson County, VA
The coldest weather of the season is upon the Central Virginia Blue Ridge. Temps don’t make it above freezing even in the lower elevations on Tuesday and perhaps around freezing on Wednesday & Thursday. Mountain, BR Parkway and Skyline Drive temps will be very cold with overnight lows easily in the single digits with wind chills well below zero. There is a chance for wintry precipitation on Friday. Possibly beginning late Thursday night.
The final week of January heading into February looks to be milder with several days in the 50’s.
Photo Courtesy of Diane Givens – Nelson County, VA : It was a slow and treacherous drive off of Wintergreen Mountain on Route 664 Thursday evening. Roughly 7-8 inches of snow fell there while valley regions had received far less amounts by 8PM Thursday – January 17, 2013
Nelson County, VA
As expected rain turned to snow late in the day Thursday with accumulating snow starting to stick in the lower elevations on both the west and east side of the BRP by late afternoon. In the mountains along the parkway the snow began falling around noon Thursday with more significant amounts piling up.
One Wintergreen Resort snowfall around 8PM Thursday night – this is on the SE side of Wintergreen – 7″ – Thanks to Nancy Spangler for the photo.
Snow will taper off late Thursday night with much colder weather arriving by early next week. Daytime highs in the lower elevations will be around freezing, with mountains around 20-25 degrees for highs on Tuesday of next week. The upcoming holiday weekend looks sunny and cold, with perfect snowmaking temps at area resorts!
Photo via Wintergreen Resort: Rain changed to heavy snow as seen in this picture near the entrance to the equipment rental area below The Edge Restaurant at Wintergreen Resort. Heavy snow continues throughout the afternoon.
Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, VA
BRLM Mountain Photographer Paul Purpur sent us this quick shot below just as rain turned to snow at Wintergreen Resort early Thursday afternoon.
Blue Ridge Life ™2013 : Photo By BRLM Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Just after 1PM Thursday afternoon – January 17, 2013 rain began changing to heavy snow at Wintergreen Resort around 3500 feet in elevation.
With temps now below freezing in the higher elevations, all precipitation should change to snow, with accumulation throughout the afternoon.
Via NWS: A WINTER STORM WARNING goes into effect Thursday morning until early Friday morning.
WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT 11PM THURSDAY URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
200 PM EST THU JAN 17 2013
VAZ025-036-037-503-504-180300-
/O.CON.KLWX.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-130118T0400Z/
AUGUSTA-NELSON-ALBEMARLE-WESTERN HIGHLAND-EASTERN HIGHLAND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…STAUNTON…WAYNESBORO…
CHARLOTTESVILLE…HIGHTOWN…MONTEREY
200 PM EST THU JAN 17 2013
…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EST THIS
EVENING…
* PRECIPITATION TYPE…SNOW…HEAVY AT TIMES.
* ACCUMULATIONS…4 TO 6 INCHES.
* TIMING…SNOW IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS ABOVE 2000 FEET AND
MAINLY RAIN MIXING WITH SLEET IN THE VALLEYS THROUGH THE MID
AFTERNOON. SNOW MAY BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES LATE THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING. SNOW WILL END LATE THIS EVENING.
* TEMPERATURES…IN THE MID 30S.
* WINDS…NORTH 5 MPH OR LESS WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 MPH.
* IMPACTS…ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW COVERED ALONG WITH POOR
VISIBILITY IN HEAVY SNOW DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING
COMMUTE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECAST FOR POSSIBLE
UPDATES FOR THIS STORM SYSTEM.
