Photo by Tommy Stafford : Anywhere from a dusting to 1″ of snow fell overnight Sunday as rain changed into snow. That prompted schools to delay opening or close on Monday along with numerous accidents across the area. Monday – January 9, 2023
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
Nelson County, Virginia
By Tommy Stafford
A bit of a surprise snow began falling Sunday evening around 6 PM in many areas close to the Blue Ridge and points east. Forecasts called for just a plain old cold rain, but just enough cold air worked in for the rain to change to snow.
Photo courtesy of Raven Rose : Highways like Tye Brook shown here in Nelson became snow covered quickly as the rain converted to snow Sunday night. Sunday – January 8, 2023
64 is a mess. Passed 5 wrecks between Zion Crossroads and Charlottesville. Cars in the trees and in ditches. If you don’t need to be on the roads tonight, probably a good idea to stay home. Multiple wrecks on town too. @CBS19Weather
SOUND UP: You can hear the sleet hitting the pavement in Nelson County, VA earlier today.
Winter Weather Advisories are posted for the central Appalachians because of snow, sleet and light freezing rain resulting in slippery travel. #WVwx#icepic.twitter.com/aovnOOB5uQ
Nelson County Schools originally placed their schools on a 2 hours delay but around 8:30 Monday morning a message was posted on their website that schools would be closed. Screenshot – January 9, 2023
As temperatures rise above freezing through the morning and the rest of the day all of the snow and sleet is expected to melt quickly. Most of the coming week is seasonal with mild daytime temps and freezing temps in the upper 20s and lower 30s at night. Rain is back in the forecast by the end of the week.
From NWS : A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for areas highlighted in purple for much of Sunday and Sunday evening. For the absolute latest updates click on the image above.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
Central Virginia Blue Ridge-
Including the city of Wintergreen
332 PM EST Sat Jan 7 2023
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM SUNDAY TO
MIDNIGHT EST SUNDAY NIGHT…
TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 20s. North winds 5 to
10 mph.
.SUNDAY…Partly sunny with a chance of freezing rain and snow in
the morning, then cloudy with snow, freezing rain, rain with a
slight chance of sleet in the afternoon. Snow and sleet
accumulation around an inch. Ice accumulation around a trace.
Highs in the lower 30s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of
precipitation 80 percent.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…Rain. Freezing rain likely in the evening, then
freezing rain after midnight. Lows in the lower 30s. South winds
5 to 10 mph, becoming west after midnight. Chance of
precipitation 80 percent.
.MONDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Northwest winds 10 to
15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 20s.
.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 30.
.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.
.THURSDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and snow.
Lows in the mid 30s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
.FRIDAY…Rain likely. Highs in the lower 40s. Chance of rain
60 percent.
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
258 PM EST Sat Jan 7 2023
Augusta-Western Highland-Eastern Highland- Central Virginia Blue Ridge – (Including Wintergreen)
258 PM EST Sat Jan 7 2023
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM SUNDAY TO
MIDNIGHT EST SUNDAY NIGHT…
* WHAT…Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet
accumulations of up to one inch and ice accumulations of around
one tenth of an inch above 1500 feet.
* WHERE…Augusta, Western Highland and Eastern Highland
Counties, and Central Virginia Blue Ridge.
* WHEN…From 10 AM Sunday to midnight EST Sunday night. A wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain will overspread the area late Sunday morning into Sunday afternoon between 11 AM and 2 PM. Temperatures above 1500 feet will be around 30 to 32 degrees. Temperatures in the valleys below 1500 feet will be in the mid to upper 30s, so any snow or sleet accumulation will be light and freezing rain is not expected.
* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on
steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery,
increasing your risk of a fall and injury.
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
258 PM EST Sat Jan 7 2023
Rockingham-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge (Including Big Meadows) -Western Pendleton-
Eastern Pendleton-
258 PM EST Sat Jan 7 2023
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON SUNDAY TO MIDNIGHT
EST SUNDAY NIGHT…
* WHAT…Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations
of up to one inch and ice accumulations of around one tenth of
an inch.
* WHERE…In Virginia, Rockingham County, and Northern Virginia
Blue Ridge. In West Virginia, Western Pendleton and Eastern
Pendleton Counties.
* WHEN…From noon Sunday to midnight EST Sunday night. A wintry
mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain will overspread the area
Sunday afternoon between noon and 3 PM. Temperatures above 1500
feet will be around 30 to 32 degrees. Temperatures in the
valleys below 1500 feet will be in the mid to upper 30s, so any
snow or sleet accumulation will be light and freezing rain is
not expected.
* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on
steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery,
increasing your risk of a fall and injury.
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
327 PM EST Sat Jan 7 2023
Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Bedford-Amherst-
Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-
Including the cities of New Castle, Clifton Forge, Covington,
Hot Springs, Fincastle, Lexington, Buena Vista, Bedford, Amherst,
Hinton, Hix, Union, Lewisburg, and White Sulphur Springs
327 PM EST Sat Jan 7 2023
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM SUNDAY TO MIDNIGHT
EST SUNDAY NIGHT…
* WHAT…Generally a mix of freezing rain and sleet Sunday with
ice accumulations under a tenth of an inch. An additional inch
or less of snow is possible Sunday evening.
* WHERE…Portions of central, south central, southwest and west
central Virginia and southeast West Virginia.
* WHEN…From 5 AM Sunday to midnight EST Sunday night.
* 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.
“UPDATE: Virginia State Police has identified the 11-year-old recovered on Dec. 27, 2022 as Jasiah Davis of Arrington, Va. In addition, further investigation revealed that Mr. Shabazz was the court-appointed legal guardian of three of the passengers. The fourth passenger was a friend.
At 11:41 a.m. on Dec. 27, 2022, the Virginia State Police was alerted to a submerged vehicle in the Rockfish River near the intersection of Bridgeport Lane and Johnson Hollow in Nelson County. State police is still working to determine the exact date the vehicle was washed into the river.
At this stage of the investigation, it appears that a 1997 Toyota 4Runner tried to cross the flooded Rockfish River at a low river crossing on Bridgeport Lane and was swept away by the strong current. The crossing is on private property.
The bodies of Christopher W. Doss, 17, of Arrington, Va., and Jasiah Davis, 11, of Arrington, Va., were located on the riverbank.
Once the Toyota was retrieved from the river, troopers recovered the body of Pharoah M. Shabazz, 30, of Arrington, Va., from inside the vehicle.
State police are told there were two additional individuals inside the Toyota – an 18-year-old male and a 12-year-old male. VSP Search and Recovery Team divers returned to the Rockfish River on Jan. 3, 2023 to resume search efforts for the two still believed missing. Unfortunately, the daylong search efforts did not result in the bodies being located. The VSP SRT divers are continuously assessing the water levels to determine which day is best to return and conduct another search of the river.
VSP Aviation Division, Virginia Department of Emergency Management search teams, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office have been assisting with the ongoing search and investigative efforts.
None of the individuals were related. The incident remains under investigation.
—
Shelby Crouch
Public Relations Coordinator
Virginia State Police”
See funeral home obituary info for Pharoh M. Shabazz below release.
Thursday January 5, 2023 VSP released additional this additional information down below.
“UPDATE in Nelson County Vehicle Incident
At 11:41 a.m. on Dec. 27, 2022, the Virginia State Police was alerted to a submerged vehicle in the Rockfish River near the intersection of Bridgeport Lane and Johnson Hollow in Nelson County. State police is still working to determine the exact date the vehicle was washed into the river.
At this stage of the investigation, it appears that a 1997 Toyota 4Runner tried to cross the flooded Rockfish River at a low river crossing on Bridgeport Lane and was swept away by the strong current. The crossing is on private property.
The bodies of Christopher W. Doss, 17, of Arrington, Va., and what are believed to be the remains of an 11-year-old male were located on the riverbank. State police is still waiting for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond to confirm the identity of the younger juvenile.
Once the Toyota was retrieved from the river, troopers recovered the body of Pharoah M.Shabazz, 30, of Arrington, Va., from inside the vehicle.
State police are told there were two additional individuals inside the Toyota – an 18-year-old male and a 12-year-old male. VSP Search and Recovery Team divers returned to the Rockfish River on Jan. 3, 2023 to resume search efforts for the two still believed missing. Unfortunately, the daylong search efforts did not result in the bodies being located. The VSP SRT divers are continuously assessing the water levels to determine which day is best to return and conduct another search of the river.
VSP Aviation Division, Virginia Department of Emergency Management search teams, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office have been assisting with the ongoing search and investigative efforts.
None of the individuals were related. The incident remains under investigation.
Corinne N. Geller
Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police”
From VSP at 12:05 PM 1.4.23” “Virginia State Police Trooper L.G. Pingley is investigating a two-vehicle crash in Nelson County. The crash occurred at 9:32 p.m. on Jan. 2, 2023 at the intersection of Route 29 and Route 655.
A 2005 Chevrolet Malibu was westbound on Rte. 655. As it was pulling across Route 29, it pulled into the path of a 2016 Chevrolet Spark traveling south on Route 29. The Spark was unable to avoid the Malibu and the vehicles collided.
The driver of the Malibu, Tracy A. Replogle, 37, of Amherst, Va., and a 31-year-old male passenger were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The front seat passenger in the Malibu, Elizabeth A. Simmons, 25, of Arrington, Va., died at the scene. None of the three in the vehicle was wearing a seatbelt.
The driver of the Spark, Heather A. Provenza, 40, of Madison Heights, Va., was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious injuries. She was wearing a seatbelt.
The crash remains under investigation. Charges are pending.
Corinne N. Geller
Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police”
From VSP at 5:30 PM 1.3.23” At 9:46 p.m. Monday (Jan. 2), Virginia State Police responded to a crash at Rte. 29 and Rte. 655. There was one confirmed fatality. The crash remains under investigation.
This is all the information I have to provide on the crash at this time.
Corinne N. Geller
Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police”
Photo via VSP : Crews continue searching the Rockfish River near Schuyler for victims of a fatal car incident where a vehicle went into the water. Wednesday – 12.28.22
Near Schuyler
Bridgeport Lane and Johnson Hollow
Nelson County, Virginia
“At 11:41 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 27), the Virginia State Police was alerted to a submerged vehicle in the Rockfish River near the intersection of Bridgeport Lane and Johnson Hollow in Nelson County. State police is still working to determine the exact date the vehicle was washed off the road.
At this point in the investigation, it appears that a 1997 Toyota 4Runner tried to cross the flooded Rockfish River at a low river crossing on Bridgeport Lane and was swept away by the strong current. The crossing is on private property.
Two individuals, an 11-year-old male and a 17-year-old male, were located deceased on the riverbank.
Once the vehicle was retrieved from the river, a 30-year-old male was found inside.
Photo Courtesy of VSP : Crews continue searching for two additional victims in the Rockfish River near Schuyler, Virginia. Wednesday 12.28.22
The VSP Search and Recovery Team, VSP Aviation Division, Virginia Department of Emergency Management search teams, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office continue to search for two more individuals believed to have been passengers in the vehicle.
None of the individuals were related. The three that have been recovered have been transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Richmond for autopsy, examination and positive identification.
The incident remains under investigation.
We will not release the names until the ME has confirmed the identities and next of kin have been notified.
Corinne N. Geller
Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police”
Contract crews for the Virginia Department of Transportation are slightly changing their planned flagging operations for the diverging diamond interchange at Interstate 64 and U.S. 250 (Richmond Road). Flagging operations for this week are cancelled. Crews will begin flagging next week as follows:
Expect right lane closures for utility work, between the on-ramp and the off-ramp of Interstate 64 in the eastbound lanes. Also expect right lane closures on U.S. 250 (Richmond Road) for median work, between Route 1777 (Hansens Mountain Road) and Route 1146 (Hunters Way) in the eastbound and westbound lanes, Wednesday, Jan. 3 through Friday, Jan. 6, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Project completion date, Feb., 2023.
The schedule for the new roundabout at U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) and Route 151 (Critzers Shop Road) is also changing as follows. Expect flagging operations in the following areas:
U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) between Route 172 (Little Rock Lane) and Route 692 (Plank Road) in the eastbound and westbound lanes, Wednesday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Flagging will begin again Thursday at 6 a.m. and continue non-stop through Friday, at noon. and Jan. 3-6, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Route 151 (Critzers Shop Road) between U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) and Route 803 (Goodloe Lane), Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Flagging will begin again Thursday at 6 a.m. and continue non-stop through Friday at noon, and Jan. 3-6, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Expected project completion date is Feb., 2023.
For questions or to report hazardous road conditions, the public should contact VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center by visiting my.vdot.virginia.gov or calling 800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623).
Approximate area of the water recovery taking place near Schuyler, Virginia.
Schuyler
Nelson County, VA
Updated at 3:30 pm 12.28.22 with official VSP release / update:
“ At 11:41 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 27), the Virginia State Police was alerted to a submerged vehicle in the Rockfish River near the intersection of Bridgeport Lane and Johnson Hollow in Nelson County. State police is still working to determine the exact date the vehicle was washed off the road.
At this point in the investigation, it appears that a 1997 Toyota 4Runner tried to cross the flooded Rockfish River at a low river crossing on Bridgeport Lane and was swept away by the strong current. The crossing is on private property.
Two individuals, an 11-year-old male and a 17-year-old male, were located deceased on the riverbank.
Once the vehicle was retrieved from the river, a 30-year-old male was found inside.
The VSP Search and Recovery Team, VSP Aviation Division, Virginia Department of Emergency Management search teams, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office continue to search for two more individuals believed to have been passengers in the vehicle.
None of the individuals were related. The three that have been recovered have been transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Richmond for autopsy, examination and positive identification.
The incident remains under investigation.
We will not release the names until the ME has confirmed the identities and next of kin have been notified.
Corinne N. Geller
Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police”
Updated 2:30 PM with additional victims:
BRL has been able to independently confirm that 3 people have been found dead in the water recovery effort near Schuyler, Virginia. Crews are looking for two additional victims believed to have perished. At this time it’s believed there is an adult male, and four children, but two of the victims have not been located as of Wednesday, midafternoon. We know the identity of the adult male and word has swept across social media in Nelson. We will not publish any victim names until Virginia State Police have released them.
Tommy
Earlier release from VSP:
“At 11:41 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 27), the Virginia State Police was alerted to a submerged vehicle in the Rockfish River near the intersection of Bridgeport Lane and Johnson Hollow in Nelson County.
Local and state Search and Recovery Teams responded to the scene to assist with the vehicle recovery. At this time, there are two confirmed fatalities. The investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Corinne N. Geller
Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police”
— CBS19 News: Charlottesville News First (@CBS19News) December 27, 2022
BRL can confirm rescue crews are on the scene of a water rescue/recovery near Schuyler in Nelson County, Virginia. We have confirmed with Virginia State Police there is an ongoing scene. We have been told from other independent sources that multiple victims have been found from a submerged SUV in the water along Bridgeport Lane.
This is a developing story we are working in conjunction with CBS19News in Charlottesville.
Photo Courtesy of Wintergreen Fire & Rescue : Subzero temperatures for the past several days are giving way to a thaw and that’s causing a lot of pipes that froze to burst. This was a unit on the mountain at Wintergreen. It was posted to the fire & rescue page on Monday.
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
Temps below freezing, and some even below zero in the higher elevations, caused lots of frozen pipes. Once the temps stared nudging above freezing that started the bursted pipes.
Frozen and bursted pipes caused more than just water damage. As WF&R posted below, it became necessary to relocate residents from an apartment complex that was flooded from bursted pipes.
A much bigger thaw is on the way this week with temps making it to around 60° by the New Year Weekend.
Click on the orange and white arrow play button above to listen now.
Schuyler, Virginia & Memphis, Tennessee
In what’s become our annual tradition here at BRL, enjoy this special radio interview from the December 2011 (Has it already been more than a decade?? !!) Christmas season as Nelson native Earl Hamner, Jr. talks with BRL Publisher Tommy Stafford and Memphis KWAM 990 Radio host, Earle Farrell. Earle continues his radio show to this day. Press the orange play button above and listen for over an hour as Earl reminisces about his career, life in the Virginia Blue Ridge and more.
And be sure to check out one of our favorite recipes for the Christmas season. Applesauce cake made by Earl’s mother. Click here to view that.
Be sure to listen toward the end as Earl reads a special Christmas tribute remarking about the late Will Geer who played Grandpa Walton.
From CVEC Outage App : As of 11:20 AM just under 4000 customers were reported without power through the CVEC app. Friday – 12.23.22 That number has climbed to within a half hour. (Click image above for the latest updates)
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
High winds coupled with a couple of inches of rain or, more in some locations, has setup the scenario for power outages. As of 11:15 AM Friday morning just under 4000 customers were reported without power via CVEC.
Additional outages were being reported on adjacent systems.
On the mountain at Wintergreen a 38 MPH wind gust has already been measured with temps already in the single digits. That’s producing wind chills well below zero.
A screenshot of one weather station at Wintergreen just after 11 AM – Friday 12.23.22 (click on the image above for the latest temperature and wind updates from that station)
Winds will continue for much of the day but will eventually ease up some overnight into the weekend. But temps remain extremely cold until roughly Tuesday when we break freezing.
For the latest active weather alerts, visit our weather alerts page here.
