58.2 F
Nellysford
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
type here...
Home Blog Page 4

VDOT : Scheduled Construction & Maintenance Work : Week Of Dec 23 – Jan 3rd

Tommy
-
0
VDOT : Scheduled Construction & Maintenance Work : Week Of Dec 23 – Jan 3rd

 

CULPEPER DISTRICT: Dec. 23, 2024-Jan. 3, 2025

CULPEPER — The following highway work is scheduled, weather permitting, in the Culpeper District during the next week. Traffic movements may be restricted, and speed limits may be reduced in work zones. (NEW) or (UPDATE) indicate revisions since last week’s report.

To help make end-of-year holiday travel more enjoyable, the Virginia Department of Transportation will suspend many highway work zones and lift most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Tuesday, Dec. 24, until noon on Thursday, Dec. 26, as well as from noon on Tuesday, Dec. 31, until noon on Thursday, Jan. 2.

Culpeper District traffic information is also available on Twitter at @VaDOTCulp and on VDOT’s website at http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/travel_alerts/culpeper/default.asp.

Albemarle County 

(UPDATE) Equipment installation and repairs – Expect intermittent lane and shoulder closures in the following areas:

  • Interstate 64, between mile marker 106 and mile marker 107 in the westbound lanes, daily, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Interstate 64, Interstate 64, between mile marker 102 and mile marker 106 in the eastbound lanes, nightly, 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
  • Interstate 64 between mile marker 104 and mile marker 107 in the westbound lanes, nightly 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

(UPDATE) Utility work under VDOT permit – Expect lane and shoulder closures in the following areas:

  • U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike), alternating lane closures between Route 240 (Crozet Avenue) and Route 797 (Hillsboro Lane) in the eastbound and westbound lanes, daily, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Route 240 (Crozet Avenue), alternating lane closures between Route 691 (Jarmans Gap Road) and Route 240 (Three Notch’d Road) in the northbound and southbound lanes, daily, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Route 240 (Three Notch’d Road), alternating lane closures between Route 240 (Crozet Avenue) and U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) in the eastbound and westbound lanes, daily, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Route 601 (Old Ivy Road), between U.S. 29 (Bypass) and the Charlottesville city line in the northbound and southbound lanes, daily, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Route 751 (Brownsville Road), both shoulders closed between Route 240 (Crozet Avenue) and U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) in the eastbound and westbound lanes, daily, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • Route 797 (Hillsboro Lane), right shoulder closures between U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) and Route 684 (Half Mile Branch Road) in the eastbound and westbound lanes, daily, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

(UPDATE) Interstate 64 – Tree trimming. Expect left lane and left shoulder closure between mile marker 112 and mile marker 115 in the westbound lanes, daily, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

U.S. 29 (Seminole Trail) – Roadway improvements. Expect alternating lane closures between Route 3416 (Angus Road) and Seminole Court in the northbound and southbound lanes, nightly, Monday through Thursday, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., 10 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday, 9 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday, 8 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday.

(NEW) Route 20 (Scottsville Road) – Sign installation. Expect right shoulder closures at Red Hill Road in the northbound and southbound lanes at the following times:

  • Monday, Dec. 30, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 31, 7 a.m. to noon.
  • Thursday, Dec. 2, noon to 5 p.m.
  • Friday, Dec. 3, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(NEW) Route 606 (Dickerson Road) – Bridge inspection. One-lane road closed between Route 1030 (Lonicera Way) and Route 850 (Chris Greene Lake Road), Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

(NEW) Route 726 (James River Road) – Tree removal. Road closed with detour in place between Route 20 (Scottsville Road) and Route 795 (Blenheim Road) in the eastbound and westbound lanes, Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Route 797 (Hillsboro Lane) – Rehabilitation project. Expect alternating lane closures between Route 684 (Half Mile Branch Road) and U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) in the eastbound and westbound lanes, daily, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

City of Charlottesville

Roadway improvements – Expect alternating lane closures Monday through Thursday, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., 10 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday, 9 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday, 8 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday in the following areas:

  • U.S. 250 (Bypass), between Route 3412 (Dairy Road) and the ramp to U.S. 29 (Emmet Street) in the northbound and southbound lanes.
  • Route 743 (Hydraulic Road), between Route 3431 (Brandywine Drive) and U.S. 29 (Seminole Trail) in the eastbound and westbound lanes.

Culpeper County

(UPDATE) Utility work under VDOT permit – Expect alternating lane closures in the following areas:

  • U.S. 15 (James Madison Highway), between Route 684 (Bel Pre Road) and 2 miles south in the southbound lanes, daily, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • U.S. 15 (James Madison Highway), between Route 674 (Kellys Ford Road) and the Fauquier County line in the southbound lanes, daily, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • U.S. 522 (Germanna Highway), between U.S. 522 (Zachary Taylor Highway) and the Culpeper town line in the northbound and southbound lanes, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • U.S. 522 (Zachary Taylor Highway), between Route 652 (Cedar Grove Road) and Route 3 (Germanna Highway) in the northbound and southbound lanes, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fauquier County

(NEW) Utility work under VDOT permit – Expect lane and shoulder closures, daily through Tuesday, Dec. 31, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the following areas:

  • U.S. 15 (Eastern Bypass), right shoulder closures between Route 651 (Freemans Ford Road) and the Culpeper County line in the southbound lanes.
  • U.S. 15 (Lee Highway), right shoulder closures between Route 1045 (Snow Hill Drive) and Route 600 (Beverleys Mill Road) in the southbound lanes.

(UPDATE) U.S. 15 Business (Broadview Avenue – Expect alternating lane closures between Route 1893 (Winchester Street) and Hospital Drive in the northbound and southbound lanes, daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Greene County

U.S. 29 (Seminole Trail) – Pothole patching. Expect left shoulder closures at U.S. 33 (Spotswood Trail) in the southbound lanes, daily through Monday, Dec. 30, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Route 810 (Dyke Road) – Bridge substructure repairs/replacement. Expect alternating lane closures between Route 630 (Rosebrook Road) and Route 631 (Haneytown Road) in the eastbound and westbound lanes, daily, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Louisa County

(NEW) Utility work under VDOT permit – Expect lane and shoulder closures in the following areas:

  • Route 208 (New Bridge Road), right shoulder closure between U.S. 522 (Zachary Taylor Highway) and Route 652 (Kentucky Springs Road) in the eastbound and westbound lanes, daily, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Route 605 (Willis Proffitt Road), alternating lane closures between U.S. 33 (Jefferson Highway) and U.S. 522 (Pendleton Road) in the northbound and southbound lanes, Monday, Dec. 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

U.S. 15 (James Madison Highway) – Maintenance. Expect alternating lane closures between the Gordonsville town line and Zions Crossroads in the northbound and southbound lanes, daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Route 640 (East Jack Jouett Road) – Bridge repairs. Road closed between Route 613 (Poindexter Road) and Route 617 (Green Springs Road). Expected completion date is Jan. 17.

Madison County

U.S. 29 (North Seminole Trail) – Pipe repairs/installation. Expect alternating lane closures between Route 612 (James City Road) and the Culpeper County line in the northbound and southbound lanes, daily, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Orange County

Utility work under VDOT permit – Expect alternating lane closures, daily, in the following areas:

  • U.S. 522 (Zachary Taylor Highway), between Route 611 (Raccoon Ford Road) and the Culpeper County line in the northbound and southbound lanes, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • U.S. 522 (Zachary Taylor Highway), between Route 9725 (Village Road) and Route 650 (Independence Road) in the northbound and southbound lanes, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(END)

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.

LYNCHBURG DISTRICT

TRAFFIC ALERT

December 23-29, 2024

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Highway work requiring road/lane/structure closures is planned;

however, work may be delayed/canceled due to weather or other issues. Items in italics

contain new/updated information. For up-to-date information, call 511 or visit

www.511.VDOT.Virginia.gov

District-wide activities:

Crews will perform various activities throughout the district to include, but are not limited to

bridge & guardrail maintenance, brush/tree/limb cutting, pothole/surface/shoulder work,

surface treatment/paving operations, work orders, mowing, boom axing, drainage repairs/

work and roadside cleanup.

Work at specific locations:

Amherst County:

Please note district-wide activities above.

Appomattox County:

Please note district-wide activities above.

Buckingham County:

Please note district-wide activities above.

Campbell County:

Please note district-wide activities above.

Charlotte County:

Please note district-wide activities above.

Cumberland County:

Please note district-wide activities above.

Halifax County:

Route 615 (Dudley Road) – Bridge Replacement. Closed to through traffic. Detour is in

place. Estimated completion January 2025.

Please note district-wide activities above.Lynchburg:

Please note district-wide activities above.

Nelson County:

Route 29, between Route 6 (River Rd.) and Route 718 (Mountain Cove Rd.) – Shoulder

widening, rumble strip installation, guardrail installation. Estimated completion January

2025.

Route 653 (Wilson Road) – Bridge Replacement. The bridge over the Norfolk Southern

Railroad is closed. Estimated reopening November 2025.

Please note district-wide activities above.

Pittsylvania County:

Route 311 (Harville-Saunders Parkway) – New Road Construction. The roadway is

open. Work is still being done off the roadway. Expect shoulder and lane closures.

Overall completion expected June 16, 2025.

Route 751 (Grassland Drive) – Emergency Culvert Repair. A detour with signage is in

place, utilizing Route 40. Expected completion January 1, 2025, weather permitting.

Please note district-wide activities above.

Prince Edward County:

Please note district-wide activities above.

 

Highway Work Zones in the VDOT Staunton District

STAUNTON – The following is a list of highway work that may affect traffic in the Staunton transportation district during the coming weeks. The Staunton District consists of 11 counties from the Alleghany Highlands to the northern Shenandoah Valley: Alleghany, Bath, Rockbridge, Highland, Augusta, Rockingham, Page, Shenandoah, Frederick, Clarke and Warren.

Note: VDOT suspends many highway work zones and lifts most lane closures on interstates and other major roads from noon Tuesday, Dec. 24 until noon Thursday, Dec. 26 and again from noon Tuesday, Dec. 31 until noon Thursday, Jan. 2.

Scheduled work is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. When traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures.

*NEW* or *UPDATE* indicates a change from last week’s report.

ALLEGHANY COUNTY

INTERSTATE 64

No lane closures reported.

PRIMARY ROADS

Various roads – Flagger traffic control for tree and debris removal, drainage work, pothole patching, brush cutting, ditching and shoulder repairs. Mobile traffic control for tractor mowing. Weekdays (except holidays) from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SECONDARY ROADS

Various roads – Flagger traffic control for ditch work, shoulder repairs, pothole repairs, pipe replacement and brush cutting. Mobile traffic control for tractor mowing. Weekdays (except holidays) from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

BATH COUNTY

PRIMARY ROADS

Various roads – Flagger traffic control for shoulder repairs and pipe cleaning, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays (except holidays).

SECONDARY ROADS

Various roads – Flagger traffic control for brush cutting and pipe cleaning, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays (except holidays).

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY

INTERSTATE 64

No lane closures reported.

INTERSTATE 81

*NEW* Mile marker 198 to 197, southbound – Left shoulder closure for ditch cleaning, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 23.

PRIMARY ROADS

Various roads – Flagger traffic control for pipe replacement, ditch work, tree removal, shoulder repairs, pavement patching and brush cutting, 7:30 to 3 p.m. weekdays (except holidays).

SECONDARY ROADS

Various roads – Flagger traffic control for grading, pipe replacement, ditch work, tree removal, pavement patching, shoulder repairs and brush cutting, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays (except holidays).

HIGHLAND COUNTY

PRIMARY ROADS

Various roads – Flagger traffic control for pothole patching, brush cutting and shoulder repairs, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays (except holidays).

SECONDARY ROADS

Various roads – Flagger traffic control for brush cutting, pipe cleaning, tree removal, adding stone to unpaved roads and ditch work, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays (except holidays).

AUGUSTA COUNTY

INTERSTATE 64

Mile marker 95 to 97, eastbound and westbound – Shoulder closures for painting of bridge over Route 624 (South Delphine Avenue), 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through February 28.

Mile marker 95 to 98, eastbound and westbound – Overnight single lane closures for installation of traffic equipment, 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. through night of January 8.

INTERSTATE 81

Mile marker 220 to 222, northbound and southbound – Shoulder closures 24/7 for bridge replacement and roadway construction as part of I-81 southbound auxiliary laneproject. Expected completion in summer 2025. Work zone speed limit 60 miles an hour.

Mile marker 221 to 227, northbound and southbound – Right and left shoulder closures 24/7 through spring 2026 for I-81 widening project. Work zone speed limit 60 miles an hour.

PRIMARY ROADS

Route 250 (Three Notched Mountain Highway) – Eastbound and westbound alternating lane closures near I-64 interchange for painting of interstate overpass bridges, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through February 28, 2025.

SECONDARY ROADS

Route 624 (South Delphine Avenue, Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between South Oak Lane and Chinquapin Drive for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor, through May 2025.

Route 635 (Barterbrook Road) – Closed between I-81 frontage roads (FR-217 and FR-218) for bridge replacement as part of I-81 southbound auxiliary lane project. Follow posted detour. Expected completion summer 2025.

Route 664 (Lyndhurst Road, Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between Miami Avenue and Purdue Street for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor, through June 2025.

Various roads – Mobile traffic control for mowing operations. Flagger traffic control for drainage work, tree removal, shoulder repairs, pavement patching and brush cutting, 7:30 to 3 p.m. weekdays (except holidays).

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

INTERSTATE 81

Exit 240, northbound and southbound – Shoulder closures along ramps to and from Route 257 for construction of additional turn lanes, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through December 31.

Mile marker 242 to 248, northbound and southbound – Overnight ramp closures and alternating lane closures as needed, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. through December 2026. Expect delays. 24/7 shoulder closures. Traffic restrictions are related to Route 33 bridge and interchange project.

PRIMARY ROADS

Route 33 (Rawley Pike) – Flagger and pilot-truck traffic control between Dry Run Road and Switzer Lake Road for road widening project, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through December 28.

Route 33 (East Market Street, Harrisonburg) – Overnight lane closures eastbound and westbound between Vine Street/Hawkins Street and Terri Drive due to bridge work, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. nights through January 2026. Detours in place as needed during overnight closures. Single-lane traffic between Hawkins Street and Evelyn Byrd Avenue for bridge construction, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. through September 2026. Shoulder closures 24/7. Work zone speed limit 25 miles an hour with automated speed enforcement. Traffic restrictions are for Route 33 bridge replacements and interchange improvement.

Route 42 (Main Street, Timberville) – Northbound and southbound right lane closures between McCauley Drive and Fifth Street for curb and gutter installation, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through December 27.

Various roads – Mobile traffic control for mowing operations. Flagger traffic control for pipe replacement, ditch work, tree removal, shoulder repairs, pavement patching and brush cutting, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays (except holidays).

SECONDARY ROADS

Route 682 (Friedens Church Road) – Eastbound and westbound right lane closures between I-81 interchange and Route 989 (Creekside Drive) for road widening project, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through December 31.

Route 800 (McCauley Drive, Timberville) –Flagger traffic control between Route 42 (South Main Street/Timber Way) and Fourth Avenue for sidewalk construction, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through May 1, 2025.

PAGE COUNTY

PRIMARY ROADS

Various roads – Mobile traffic control for mowing operations. Flagger traffic control for pipe replacement, ditch work, tree removal, shoulder repairs, pavement patching and brush cutting, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays (except holidays).

SECONDARY ROADS

Various roads – Flagger traffic control for brush cutting and pipe cleaning, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays (except holidays).

SHENANDOAH COUNTY

INTERSTATE 81

No lane closures reported.

PRIMARY ROADS

No lane closures reported.

SECONDARY ROADS

No lane closures reported.

FREDERICK COUNTY

INTERSTATE 81

*NEW* Mile marker 315 to 316, northbound and southbound – Overnight single lane closures for inspection of Route 7 overpass bridge, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on the night of December 26.

PRIMARY ROADS

*UPDATE* Route 7 (Berryville Pike) – Eastbound alternating lane closures between Route 660 (Woods Mill Road) and Clarke County line for tree trimming operations, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. December 23, December 30 and January 3.

*UPDATE* Route 11 (Valley Pike) – Northbound shoulder closures between Route 652 (Apple Valley Road) and Route 652 (Shawnee Drive) for utility work, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 30, 7 a.m. to 12 noon December 31, 12 noon to 5 p.m. January 2 and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. January 3.

SECONDARY ROADS

Route 735 (Salem Church Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 636 (Huttle Road) and Route 637 (Cauthorn Mill Road) for utility work, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through December 31.

CLARKE COUNTY

PRIMARY ROADS

No lane closures reported.

SECONDARY ROADS

No lane closures reported.

WARREN COUNTY

INTERSTATE 66

No lane closures reported.

INTERSTATE 81

No lane closures reported.

PRIMARY ROADS

No lane closures reported.

SECONDARY ROADS

Route 658 (Rockland Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 340/522 (Winchester Road) and Route 705 (Fishnet Boulevard) for construction of bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway. Follow posted detour. Estimated completion December 2025.

*NEW* Route 840, (Water Plant Road) – Flagger traffic control for inspection of I-81 overpass bridges, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 23.

Vegetation management may take place district wide on various routes. VDOT reminds motorists to use extreme caution when traveling through work zones.

Obtain traffic alerts and traveler information by dialing 511 or visiting 511Virginia.org. For other assistance, call the VDOT Customer Service Center, available 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week. Citizens can dial 1-800-FOR- ROAD (1-800-367-7623) from anywhere in the state to report road hazards, ask transportation questions, or get information related to Virginia’s roads.

The VDOT Staunton District is on Facebook and X (Twitter). Follow VDOT statewide accounts on Facebook, Flickr, X and YouTube. The VDOT Web page is at https://vdot.virginia.gov/.

Weather Bulletin : Winter Weather Advisory – CANCELLED

Tommy
-
0
Weather Bulletin : Winter Weather Advisory – CANCELLED

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY (Including Wintergreen Resort)
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1226 PM EST Sat Dec 14 2024

Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-Central Virginia Blue Ridge-
1226 PM EST Sat Dec 14 2024

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM SUNDAY TO 1 AM EST
MONDAY…

* WHAT…Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet
accumulations up to one inch and ice accumulations up to one tenth
of an inch.

* WHERE…Central Virginia Blue Ridge and Northern Virginia Blue
Ridge.

* WHEN…From 7 AM Sunday to 1 AM EST Monday.

* IMPACTS…Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will
likely become slick and hazardous. Plan on slippery road
conditions. The combination of snow and ice could result in
sporadic power outages.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…A period of snow, sleet and freezing rain is
likely Sunday morning, transitioning to freezing rain by Sunday
afternoon. Freezing rain or drizzle may persist through early
Monday morning.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road
conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by
calling 5 1 1.

Be prepared for slippery roads. Slow down and use caution while
driving. If you are going outside, watch your first few steps taken
on stairs, sidewalks, and driveways. These surfaces could be icy and
slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.

Wintergreen Specific Forecast :

Zone Forecast Product
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1233 PM EST Sat Dec 14 2024

Central Virginia Blue Ridge-
Including the city of Wintergreen
1233 PM EST Sat Dec 14 2024

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM SUNDAY TO 1 AM EST
MONDAY…

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s. East winds 5 to
10 mph.
.SUNDAY…A chance of freezing rain and sleet. Snow likely in the
morning, then rain and snow in the afternoon. Little or no snow
and sleet accumulation. Ice accumulation of up to a tenth of an
inch. Highs in the mid 30s. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance
of precipitation 90 percent.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…Rain and freezing rain in the evening, then rain
likely after midnight. Lows in the lower 30s. Southeast winds
around 5 mph, becoming southwest around 5 mph after midnight.
Chance of precipitation 90 percent.
.MONDAY…Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs
in the upper 40s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain
50 percent.
.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain.
Lows in the mid 40s.
.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.
.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of rain. Highs
in the lower 50s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of
rain. Lows in the upper 30s.
.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny with a 40 percent chance of rain. Highs
in the mid 40s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 20s.
.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.

URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1226 PM EST Sat Dec 14 2024

Washington-Augusta-Rockingham-Shenandoah-Frederick VA-Page-Warren-
Morgan-Berkeley-
1226 PM EST Sat Dec 14 2024

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM SUNDAY TO 1 AM EST
MONDAY…

* WHAT…Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet
accumulations up to one inch and ice accumulations around one
tenth of an inch.

* WHERE…Portions of north central Maryland, northwest and western
Virginia, and panhandle West Virginia.

* WHEN…From 7 AM Sunday to 1 AM EST Monday.

* IMPACTS…Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will
likely become slick and hazardous. Plan on slippery road
conditions. The combination of snow and ice could result in
sporadic power outages.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…A period of snow, sleet and freezing rain is
likely from Sunday morning through Sunday afternoon. Precipitation
transitions to rain at elevations below 2000 ft Sunday afternoon.
Above 2000 ft, a period of freezing rain or drizzle may persist
through Sunday night. The highest ice accumulation will be at
elevations above 2500 ft, with a glaze of ice possible near the
valley floor.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road
conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by
calling 5 1 1.

Be prepared for slippery roads. Slow down and use caution while
driving. If you are going outside, watch your first few steps taken
on stairs, sidewalks, and driveways. These surfaces could be icy and
slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.

URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
1257 PM EST Sat Dec 14 2024

Giles-Pulaski-Montgomery-Carroll-Floyd-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-
Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-
Western Greenbrier-
Including the cities of Duo, Quinwood, Clifton Forge, Buena
Vista, Floyd, Alderson, Hinton, Fincastle, Radford, White Sulphur
Springs, Pulaski, Lewisburg, Blacksburg, Covington, Pearisburg,
Galax, Union, Rainelle, Hot Springs, Salem, Hix, Lexington,
Roanoke, and New Castle
1257 PM EST Sat Dec 14 2024

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 7 PM EST
SUNDAY…

* WHAT…Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations up
to one inch and ice accumulations around one tenth of an inch.

* WHERE…Portions of southwest and west central Virginia and
southeast West Virginia.

* WHEN…From 3 AM to 7 PM EST Sunday.

* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road
conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by
calling 5 1 1.

Augusta : Crews Continue Gaining Control Over Big Level Fire (Updated 12.14.24)

Tommy
-
0
Augusta : Crews Continue Gaining Control Over Big Level Fire (Updated 12.14.24)

Big Level Wilderness
Augusta County, Virginia

Updated 11.14.24 at 12 noon:

Friday : 11.13.24
As we’ve been telling you over the past week, crews have been attacking a large wildfire that, at one time, had taken in more than 2000 acres in the Big Level Wilderness area. On Friday the forest service says thats down to just over 1300 acres.

Below is their latest Friday morning update.

Augusta : Wildfire Grows In Big Levels Area N Of St. Mary’s Wilderness (Updated 12.9.24 – 9:39 AM)

Tommy
-
1
Augusta : Wildfire Grows In Big Levels Area N Of St. Mary’s Wilderness (Updated 12.9.24 – 9:39 AM)

Big Levels
Near St. Mary’s Trail
Augusta County, Virginia

As we’ve been posting on our BRL Facebook page for the last few days, wildfires continue burning this Sunday afternoon in the Big Levels National Forest area of Augusta County. That’s just north of northern of the St. Mary’s Trail.

Photo by Carole Painter : The Big Levels fires continues burning into the evening as seen in this photo just before dark on Saturday – September 7, 2024.

Due to the ongoing fires, the U.S. Forest Service has announced the closure of some public use areas.

Enhanced fire danger updates have also been posted for the entire area by the National Weather Service for Sunday due to sometimes gusty winds and very dry conditions.

We will continue to update as more information becomes available.

With considerable rain in the forecast for the coming days, that should help the situation.

Weather Bulletin : Increased Fire Danger Sunday (12.8.24)

Tommy
-
1
Weather Bulletin : Increased Fire Danger Sunday (12.8.24)

INCREASED FIRE DANGER
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1205 PM EST Sat Dec 7 2024

Augusta-Rockingham-Shenandoah-Frederick VA-Page-Warren-Clarke-
Nelson-Albemarle-Greene-Madison-Rappahannock-Orange-Culpeper-
Fairfax-Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Northern Fauquier-
Southern Fauquier-Western Loudoun-Eastern Loudoun-
Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-Central Virginia Blue Ridge-
Northwest Prince William-
Central and Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-
Including the cities of Staunton, Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft,
Harrisonburg, Strasburg, Woodstock, Mount Jackson, New Market,
Winchester, Luray, Shenandoah, Stanley, Front Royal, Berryville,
Lovingston, Charlottesville, Stanardsville, Madison, Washington,
Orange, Gordonsville, Culpeper, Reston, Herndon, Annandale,
Centreville, Chantilly, McLean, Franconia, Arlington, Alexandria,
Falls Church, Warrenton, Turnbull, Purcellville, Leesburg,
Ashburn, Sterling, Big Meadows, Wintergreen, Haymarket,
Dale City, Manassas, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, and Montclair
1205 PM EST Sat Dec 7 2024

…INCREASED FIRE DANGER FOR NORTHERN & CENTRAL VIRGINIA SUNDAY…

Relative humidities will drop to around 25 to 35 percent late
Sunday morning into Sunday afternoon. Sustained west to southwest
winds of 10 to 15 mph, with gusts to 20 to 30 mph are expected.
Due to dry conditions from the lack of rain, there is an increased
risk for the spread of wildfires.

Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities whether
you may burn outdoors. If you do burn outside, use extreme
caution.

$$
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
1155 AM EST Sat Dec 7 2024

VAZ022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-080100-
Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-Bedford-Amherst-
Henry-Pittsylvania-Campbell-Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-
Charlotte-
Including the cities of Roanoke, Salem, Fincastle, Lexington,
Buena Vista, Stuart, Rocky Mount, Bedford, Amherst, Martinsville,
Danville, Lynchburg, Appomattox, South Boston, and Keysville
1155 AM EST Sat Dec 7 2024

…INCREASED FIRE DANGER FOR THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT OF
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA SUNDAY…

Relative humidities will drop to around 30 to 35 percent Sunday,
mainly in the afternoon. West winds of 10 to 15 mph, with gusts
to 20 to 25 mph will also be present. Due to dry conditions from
the lack of rain, there is an increased risk for the spread of
wildfires.

Please refer to your local burn permitting authorities whether
you may burn outdoors. If you do burn outside, use extreme
caution.

The Late Earl Hamner’s Thanksgiving Memory Of Schuyler, Virginia

Tommy
-
0
The Late Earl Hamner’s Thanksgiving Memory Of Schuyler, Virginia


Schuyler
Nelson County, Virginia

For several years during the infancy of Blue Ridge Life Magazine (back then Nelson County Life) Earl Hamner wrote poems and stories for us that we luckily got to include in the pages of the magazine. We remained dear friends with Earl until his death back in March of 2016.

One of our favorites Earl shared with us back in 2006 was his Thanksgiving Memory. We share it with you this Thanksgiving 2024.

A THANKSGIVING MEMORY
By
Earl Hamner

In the beginning Schuyler was a company town, the home of The Alberene Stone Corporation, which quarried and milled soapstone. We lived in company built houses and bought our goods from the company store. Schuyler had been a prosperous little village but when the Great Depression came the mill closed. My father found work in Waynesboro and could only be home with his family on holidays and weekends.

I remember a Thanksgiving from those years. Mornings were strangely quiet because the whistle calling the workers to the mill no longer sounded. On this Thanksgiving morning the sound that woke us was that of my father, home for the holiday, building a fire in the wood-burning cook stove. He drenched the wood with kerosene and when he lit it with a match the flames mad a whooshing sound as they roared up the chimney.

Shortly, he called down the hall to my mother, “Sweetheart,” which was his name for her till his dying day. My mother answered, “I’m on my way,” and joined him in the kitchen. They spoke quietly to each other, sharing private moments. Soon the sound of coffee percolating and the aroma of sizzling bacon would drift up to our rooms.

We descended upon them, eight red headed brothers and sisters, crowding around the stove to warm up. Breakfast was served at a long wooden trestle table my father had built and while we ate he would admire his brood and call us his “thoroughbreds.”

Each of us was assigned chores. The girls helped our mother wash and dry the dishes, make the beds, washing and iron the clothes. The boys tended to outside chores. There was the cow to be milked. She was a brown and white Guernsey. My father had bought her from Miss Dolly Hall for forty dollars. Miss Dolly had named her Chance because she gave a “good chance” of butter. The chickens had been up before us and were waiting for the grain we tossed to them on the frosty ground. Feeding the pigs was a melancholy chore. They had intelligent eyes and looked up trustingly as we poured slops into their tough. I knew, and it pained me, but they were unaware that they did not have long to live.

Our Father had brought home the turkey the day before. He had shot it over on Wales Mountain and my mother was already preparing it for the oven when company began to arrive.

We were part of two great clans. In addition to my mother’s family, most of whom lived close by, my father’s people, aunts and uncles and cousins would arrive from Richmond and Petersburg. We were in awe of the city cousins. They used slang words that were new to us such as “guy” “jerk” or “kiddo” which made us feel naïve and countrified. We children would travel in packs, playing the old games of Hide and Go Seek, Olly, Olly Oxen Free, and in the nearby school yard we would shoot baskets or play baseball, or find a plowed fiend where we searched for arrowheads and fools gold.

At home the conversation grew in pitch and volume as everybody talked at once. Hardly anybody heard what the other was saying but everybody knew what was going on. We are a family of story tellers. No event is without significance to us, and all that happens becomes a part of our history. We keep and share every detail. Our reunions become a verbal history of birth and death, of failures and accomplishments, of hardships and good times and just celebrating the joy of being together again. Being an aspiring writer I kept notes!

At one point everybody piled into cars and went to the graveyard where we paid respects to our dead. The more recent graves were marked by stones with names and dates carved or engraved on them. In the older section we came to earlier graves marked simply by a single primitive stone with no lettering to tell the name of who rested beneath it.

On the way home one of the uncles made a detour down to Esmont to visit the Staples Sisters who made bootleg apple brandy. He brought a bottle back with him and it was surreptitiously passed from one of the uncles to the other. If she caught sight of it one of the wives would disapprove but her scolding did not last long for someone moved to the piano and soon all the grown ups had their arms around each other, swaying back and forth while singing “In the Garden” or “Down by The Old Mill Stream” or “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”

In the late afternoon dinner was served. If my grandmother was there she would say a proper grace, but if she was not my father said, “Look out, Lord, we’re gonna eat!” What a feast ensued! The turkey, golden brown, had a minimum of birdshot left in it. The applesauce was made from fruit we had gathered from an abandoned orchard down on Mt. Alto. The butter beans, the corn, and the peas came come from our summer garden and canned by my mother. The potatoes flavored with Chance’s rich butter were not mashed but creamed. Finally desserts. The sweet potato pie, still warm from the oven, was encased in a crust so crumbly and sweet that it alone could have been a dessert. And then came the pumpkin pie, steaming aromas of brown sugar and nutmeg, and all laced with generous portions of whipped cream. All of it was accompanied by milk for the children, coffee for the adults and if requested iced tea as sweet as sugar cane.

At sundown out-of-town guests drifted off to whatever relative had taken them in for the night. Others, sated with food and companionship, gathered around the radio for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Thanksgiving message. Sleepy, exhausted children were carted off to bed. It was a family custom that we would call goodnight to each other from room to room and finally, we would drowse off to sleep secure in the knowledge that we were home, safe and loved.

They were challenging times, those Depression Years. They seem so distant now. We thought we were poor, but in them we were richer than we knew.
The house where we lived is quiet now. No one lives there any more except for a family of dirt daubers and ghosts that move from room to room behind the empty windows.

In memory I go there each night. I stand beside the gate, look up to the house, and once again I hear the voices of my mother and father, my brothers and sisters as we call goodnight to each before we rest.

Nelson : Crabtree Falls : Area Crews Rescue Dog From Other Side Of Falls

Tommy
-
0
Nelson : Crabtree Falls : Area Crews Rescue Dog From Other Side Of Falls

Near Montebello
Crabtree Falls
Nelson County, Virginia

Usually when you hear of us reporting on a rescue at Crabtree Falls it’s a person that’s slipped and gone over. Most of the time that doesn’t end well. The deaths there are in the dozens over the years. That’s not this story. Not even close. Spoiler alert, this one has a very happy ending! What’s more, it was all captured on video. This one’s going to make you happy.

Wintergreen Fire & Rescue posted the video below over the weekend, this is how they say it all started.

“If you’re not a dog person, you may not get this.

Today we were called to Crabtree Falls to search for a dog which fell over the falls and couldn’t be located. Our crews combined with Montebello Fire and Piney River Fire to search for a few hours. The dog was not found.

Later, we were requested to return because the dog showed up on the far side of the falls. We were able to safely return Winnie to her owner.”

To see for your own, watch the video below, it’s a great one shot by the owners of the dog!

This is the kind of story we like to see coming out of Crabtree Falls!!

VSP To Run Highway Safety Initiative On US 29 During Thanksgiving Holiday

Tommy
-
0
VSP To Run Highway Safety Initiative On US 29 During Thanksgiving Holiday

From Virginia State Police:

“As part of an effort to ensure Virginians get to their Thanksgiving destinations safely and successfully, Virginia State Police will be conducting a highway safety initiative on Route 29 from Fauquier County to the North Carolina state line (200 miles).  The initiative will take place Nov. 22, 2024, and coincides with the start of Thanksgiving break for some colleges and universities.

State troopers will be targeting speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving, and seatbelt violations.

Data over the past two years has shown an increase in crashes, especially injury crashes, along Route 29 during the month of November.  Crashes increased 17% from November 2021 (659 crashes) to November 2023 (774) in the enforcement area.  Crashes with injuries increased nearly 43% over the same time period (277 in 2021 vs. 396 in 2023).

Virginia State Police held a similar initiative along Route 460 in August, coinciding with the start of the fall college semester.

Matthew Demlein
Interim Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police”

NWS Skywarn Basics Class In Nelson County & Skywarn Appreciation Day

Tommy
-
0
NWS Skywarn Basics Class In Nelson County & Skywarn Appreciation Day

 

Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia

“Nelson County is sponsoring a SKYWARN Basics Class on January 15th, 2025. The location is the Firehouse in Lovingston. Completion of this class will result in a SKYWARN spotter ID IF you live in the Baltimore/Washington (STERLING, ,LWX ) CWA (County Watch Area – see photo above)

If you live in the Wakefield or Blackburg CWA you may also attend and I can help you get on the roles of the Wakefiled or Blacksburg CWA spotter list.

For details of the Nelson County class follow the link…REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND : https://www.weather.gov/lwx/skywarn

SKYWARN Recognition day (SRD) is December 7th.  All spotters and Hams are encouraged to participate. I have never participated but it looks like fun… hope you can join in. Please check out the following link and register if you are interested.
https://www.weather.gov/crh/skywarnrecognition

Finally… thanks for the 18 check-ins on the Monthly Skywarn Net. Pete KQ4TNW was our new net controller and did a great job.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Feel free to pass is information along to Hams and Non-Hams alike.

Dave Beebe, K4UEK
Waynesboro/Charlottesville SKYWARN Subnet Coordinator
(Augusta, Albemarle, Greene and Nelson Counties)”

Montebello : Santa Responds To Letters & Makes Visit On December 14th

Tommy
-
0
Montebello : Santa Responds To Letters & Makes Visit On December 14th

Montebello
Nelson County, Virginia

The last two years Montebello Camping and Fishing has been collecting children’s letters to Santa from mid-November through mid-December. They respond back to them as Santa Claus. Just a small way to spread a little bit of the holiday magic to kids for the season!

This is their third year of doing the Santa letters. This year Santa is coming up on December 14th at 1PM. They’ll be having light refreshments and giving each family a photo to take home. It’s a free event.

Their address is 15072 Crabtree Falls Hwy, Montebello, VA 24464 and our number is 540-377-2650.

Santa comes up on December 14th at 1PM. They’ll be having light refreshments and giving each family a photo to take home. It’s also a free event.

How the Santa letters work:

1. Write a letter to Santa. Don’t forget about all those good deeds, early bedtimes, and helping with chores in the letter! Also, don’t forget what you want for Christmas!

2. Put it in an envelope.

3. Parents, please tuck a little note inside with the children’s information (name, address, and notes about anything Santa may have missed during the year! 🤫🤫).

4. Bring it on up to the Montebello Country Store and put it in our special box for Santa!

5. Be extra good and very patient for a reply!

Montebello Camping & Fishing on the web here.

1...345...753Page 4 of 753
- Advertisement -

© Copyright - Blue Ridge Life Magazine