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Tropical Depression Laura Still Slated To Affect Blue Ridge This Weekend

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NOAA : What’s now Tropical Depression Laura initially made landfall around 1 AM local time Thursday morning as a powerful hurricane near Cameron, Louisiana. What’s left of Laura will play a role in our weather this weekend. By late Friday night into Saturday she’ll be a tropical depression over the Blue Ridge.

Central Virginia Blue Ridge
By Tommy Stafford

Hurricane Laura is now a tropical depression that’s been bringing heaving rain and some tornadoes to the mid-south region of the US over the last 24 hours. A tornado caused damage near Jonesboro, Arkansas as the tropical depression moved north.

Over the next 24 hours TD Laura will move toward the Mid-Atlantic and the Blue Ridge bringing rain, thunderstorms and perhaps an isolated tornado.

The Baltimore / DC National Weather Service Office that covers our area touched on that in their Friday morning forecaster discussion.

SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
Weak low pressure associated with the remnants of Laura will be
moving from eastern Kentucky/Tennessee into the Mid-Atlantic region
on Saturday as it becomes embedded in a cold front. With moisture
advection under southerly flow, enough instability and shear values,
dynamics are together to support strong to severe storms across our
region, along with a heavy rain with PW values over 2 inches. There
is still uncertainty in the details, but there is a threat for
flooding/flash flooding, gusty/damaging winds and tornadoes. We are
under a Slight Risk from SPC for Saturday for damaging wind/tornado
potential, and a Marginal Risk from WPC from excessive rain/flash
flooding. The weak low pressure/cold front will move east of our
region on Saturday night as conditions improve.

High pressure will build over our region on Saturday night and
remain in control through Sunday night allowing for dry, less humid
conditions. After a dry day Sunday, shortwave energy aloft could
increase chances of showers over our region on Sunday night.

I’ll continue keeping an eye on Laura as she moves closer to the Blue Ridge and provide updates if necessary. The tropical depression should quickly move off to the northeast and out of our area by the second half of the weekend.

Have a great rest of your Friday and upcoming weekend!
Tommy

Remnants Of Hurricane Laura To Affect Blue Ridge Area This Weekend

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Graphic NHC : Hurricane Laura made initial landfall around 1 AM local time Thursday morning near Cameron, Louisiana. What’s left of Laura is likely to play a role in our weather this coming weekend. By Saturday she’s expected to be a tropical depression over the Blue Ridge. This image from NHC 11AM EDT update. August 27, 2020


Central Virginia Blue Ridge
By Tommy Stafford

Most of us have been watching early Thursday as Hurricane Laura came ashore in Louisiana. As she made landfall the storm was a very strong category 4 hurricane with winds of 150 MPH. That nearly makes Laura a category 5 storm. Winds of 156 MPH or greater would be CAT 5. Obviously the brunt of the damage from wind and storm surge will be confined to the Louisiana vicinity where Laura is coming ashore. But once the storm continues moving north then eastward toward the Mid-Atlantic by the weekend, we could see fallout from what will then be Tropical Depression Laura.

The 4 AM CDT update from NHC with key information about Laura. In the third paragraph there is a mention of Laura impacting our weather by Saturday.

 

Powerful Hurricane Laura moving ashore as seen from NOAA satellites.

In the local National Weather Service (Baltimore / DC Office) Thursday morning Forecaster Discussion there is also a reference to Laura having some impact on the weather across the Central Virginia Blue Ridge and the Mid-Atlantic area this weekend.

The remnants of Laura will pass through the Tennessee Valley
Friday night. A few showers may approach the area overnight, but
most of the activity should hold off until Saturday.

Locally, heavy rainfall and isolated instances of flooding are
possible Saturday. Scattered severe thunderstorms (including the
potential for gusty to damaging winds or a few tornadoes) are
possible as well as the remnants of Laura interact with an
approaching cold front and a strengthening upper jet.

Refer to the National Hurricane Center for the latest information
regarding the track of Laura.

I’ll be keeping a watch into the weekend and update as we move along. The good news as of now, Laura is not expected to linger across our area (given current forecasts as of Thursday morning) and should exit quicky to the northeast by the second half of the weekend.

Have a great Thursday!
Tommy`

Amherst : VSP Investigating Fatal Pedestrian Crash

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Verbatim release from VSP:

Virginia State Police Trooper N.E. Hollandsworth is investigating a fatal pedestrian crash in Amherst County. The crash occurred Aug. 14, 2020 at 8:26 p.m. in the 4900 block of South Amherst Highway/Route 29 Business in Madison Heights.

A 2008 Toyota Scion was traveling north in the right lane of South Amherst Highway when a pedestrian walked across the travel lane. The Scion was unable to avoid striking the woman. It was raining at the time of the crash.

Mary P. Peters of Madison Heights, Va., died at the scene.

The driver of the Scion, a 55-year-old female resident of Madison Heights, Va., was not injured in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation.

Corinne N. Geller
Public Relations Director
Virginia State Police

News Alert : 5.1 Magnitude NC Earthquake Felt As Far North As Nelson / Augusta County

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Via USGS : A magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit near Sparta, NC early Sunday morning. It was felt as far north as Nelson & Augusta Counties here in Virginia. August 9, 2020

Roseland
Nelson County, Virginia

I’ll admit it. I felt nothing. But our neighbors down the road sent me a text. “Did you just feel that, was that an earthquake?” Apparently it was. A magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit near Sparta, North Carolina around 8:07 AM.

Our BRL Facebook page is lighting up with comments from all over the region.

Click on the image above to read all of the comments on our Facebook page.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
928 AM EDT SUN AUG 9 2020

...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...

...5.1 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE NEAR SPARTA, NC....

PER THE USGS, A 5.1 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE OCCURRED AT 8:07 AM EDT
THIS MORNING, WITH THE EPICENTER LOCATED 3 KM OR APPROXIMATELY
4.8
MILES SOUTHEAST OF SPARTA, NORTH CAROLINA. THIS FOLLOWED A MUCH 
WEAKER EARTHQUAKE OF 2.6 MAGNITUDE THAT OCCURRED AT 1:57 AM EDT
THIS MORNING.

PLEASE GO TO THIS WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING
THIS EARTHQUAKE: HTTPS://EARTHQUAKE.USGS.GOV/EARTHQUAKES. THIS IS
THE VERY SAME INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE TO US HERE AT THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEITHER
MONITORS NOR FORECASTS EARTHQUAKES. THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY (USGS) IS THE ONLY FEDERAL AGENCY WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR
RECORDING AND REPORTING EARTHQUAKE ACTIVITY NATIONWIDE.

 

Did you feel it? You can send a report to the USGS earthquake center by clicking this hyperlink : https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/se60324281/tellus

Also, be sure to add your comments here in this post so we know where you felt it!

Tommy

Weather Bulletin : FLASH FLOOD WATCH : From Noon Friday Into Late Night – CANCELLED

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A Flash Flood Watch is in effect from noon Friday into the late night hours : August 7, 2020 for the areas shaded in green. Click on the image above for the absolute latest updates from NWS.

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED…
District of Columbia-Nelson-Albemarle-Greene-Madison-Orange-
Culpeper-Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-Fairfax-
Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Southern Fauquier-
Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-Central Virginia Blue Ridge-
Including the cities of Washington, Lovingston, Charlottesville,
Stanardsville, Madison, Orange, Gordonsville, Culpeper,
Dale City, Manassas, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Montclair, Reston,
Herndon, Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, McLean, Franconia,
Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Turnbull, Big Meadows,
and Wintergreen
1014 PM EDT Fri Aug 7 2020

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED…

The Flash Flood Watch for portions of The District of Columbia
and Virginia has been cancelled.

The risk of flash flooding has ended.

 

FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
346 AM EDT Fri Aug 7 2020

District of Columbia-Frederick MD-Carroll-Northern Baltimore-
Southern Baltimore-Prince Georges-Anne Arundel-Charles-St. Marys-
Calvert-Northwest Montgomery-Central and Southeast Montgomery-
Northwest Howard-Central and Southeast Howard-Northwest Harford-
Southeast Harford-Augusta-Rockingham-Page-Nelson-Albemarle-Greene-
Madison-Rappahannock-Orange-Culpeper-
Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-Fairfax-
Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Stafford-Spotsylvania-
King George-Northern Fauquier-Southern Fauquier-Western Loudoun-
Eastern Loudoun-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-
Central Virginia Blue Ridge-
Including the cities of Washington, Frederick, Ballenger Creek,
Eldersburg, Westminster, Reisterstown, Cockeysville, Baltimore,
Bowie, Suitland-Silver Hill, Clinton, College Park, Greenbelt,
Laurel, Camp Springs, Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Severn, South Gate,
Severna Park, Arnold, Odenton, St. Charles, Waldorf,
Lexington Park, California, Chesapeake Beach, Huntingtown,
Dunkirk, North Beach, Lusby, Prince Frederick, Germantown,
Damascus, Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring,
Lisbon, Columbia, Ellicott City, Jarrettsville, Aberdeen,
Staunton, Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft, Harrisonburg, Luray,
Shenandoah, Stanley, Lovingston, Charlottesville, Stanardsville,
Madison, Orange, Gordonsville, Culpeper, Dale City, Manassas,
Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Montclair, Reston, Herndon, Annandale,
Centreville, Chantilly, McLean, Franconia, Arlington, Alexandria,
Falls Church, Falmouth, Fredericksburg, Dahlgren, Warrenton,
Turnbull, Purcellville, Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Big Meadows,
and Wintergreen
346 AM EDT Fri Aug 7 2020

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH LATE
TONIGHT...

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a

* Flash Flood Watch for portions of Maryland, The District of
  Columbia, and Virginia, including the following areas, in
  Maryland, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Carroll, Central and
  Southeast Howard, Central and Southeast Montgomery, Charles,
  Frederick, Northern Baltimore, Northwest Harford, Northwest
  Howard, Northwest Montgomery, Prince Georges, Southeast
  Harford, Southern Baltimore, and St. Marys. The District of
  Columbia. In Virginia, Albemarle, Arlington/Falls
  Church/Alexandria, Augusta, Central Virginia Blue Ridge,
  Culpeper, Eastern Loudoun, Fairfax, Greene, King George,
  Madison, Nelson, Northern Fauquier, Northern Virginia Blue
  Ridge, Orange, Page, Prince William, Rappahannock, Rockingham,
  Southern Fauquier, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Western
  Loudoun.

* From noon EDT today through late tonight

* Scattered slow moving showers and thunderstorms are expected
  this afternoon and tonight which may pose a risk of flash
  flooding.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Weather Bulletin : FLASH FLOOD WATCH : Continues Into Thursday – EXPIRED

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A Flash Flood Watch continues into Thursday evening : August 6, 2020 for the areas shaded in green. Click on the image above for the absolute latest updates from NWS.

FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
246 AM EDT Thu Aug 6 2020

District of Columbia-Frederick MD-Carroll-Northern Baltimore-
Southern Baltimore-Prince Georges-Anne Arundel-Charles-St. Marys-
Calvert-Northwest Montgomery-Central and Southeast Montgomery-
Northwest Howard-Central and Southeast Howard-Northwest Harford-
Southeast Harford-Augusta-Nelson-Albemarle-Orange-
Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-Fairfax-
Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Stafford-Spotsylvania-
King George-Northern Fauquier-Southern Fauquier-Western Loudoun-
Eastern Loudoun-Central Virginia Blue Ridge-
Including the cities of Washington, Frederick, Ballenger Creek,
Eldersburg, Westminster, Reisterstown, Cockeysville, Baltimore,
Bowie, Suitland-Silver Hill, Clinton, College Park, Greenbelt,
Laurel, Camp Springs, Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Severn, South Gate,
Severna Park, Arnold, Odenton, St. Charles, Waldorf,
Lexington Park, California, Chesapeake Beach, Huntingtown,
Dunkirk, North Beach, Lusby, Prince Frederick, Germantown,
Damascus, Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring,
Lisbon, Columbia, Ellicott City, Jarrettsville, Aberdeen,
Staunton, Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft, Lovingston, Charlottesville,
Orange, Gordonsville, Dale City, Manassas, Woodbridge,
Lake Ridge, Montclair, Reston, Herndon, Annandale, Centreville,
Chantilly, McLean, Franconia, Arlington, Alexandria,
Falls Church, Falmouth, Fredericksburg, Dahlgren, Warrenton,
Turnbull, Purcellville, Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling,
and Wintergreen
246 AM EDT Thu Aug 6 2020

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING…

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has expanded
the

* Flash Flood Watch to include portions of Maryland, The
District of Columbia, and Virginia, including the following
areas, in Maryland, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Carroll, Central
and Southeast Howard, Central and Southeast Montgomery,
Charles, Frederick, Northern Baltimore, Northwest Harford,
Northwest Howard, Northwest Montgomery, Prince Georges,
Southeast Harford, Southern Baltimore, and St. Marys. The
District of Columbia. In Virginia, Albemarle, Arlington/Falls
Church/Alexandria, Augusta, Central Virginia Blue Ridge,
Eastern Loudoun, Fairfax, King George, Nelson, Northern
Fauquier, Orange, Prince William, Southern Fauquier,
Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Western Loudoun.

* Through this evening

* Numerous slow moving showers and thunderstorms continue to
develop across the region and should expand and redevelop with
time. Locations which are repetitively affected could receive
multiple-inch rainfall totals. This could lead to rapid rises on
streams and flash flooding of low lying areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
246 AM EDT Thu Aug 6 2020

Rockingham-Page-Greene-Madison-Rappahannock-Culpeper-
Northern Virginia Blue Ridge
Including the cities of Harrisonburg, Luray, Shenandoah, Stanley,
Stanardsville, Madison, Washington, Culpeper, and Big Meadows
246 AM EDT Thu Aug 6 2020

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING…

The Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for

* Portions of central Virginia, northern Virginia, northwest
Virginia, and western Virginia, including the following areas,
in central Virginia, Greene. In northern Virginia, Culpeper.
In northwest Virginia, Madison, Northern Virginia Blue Ridge,
Page, and Rappahannock. In western Virginia, Rockingham.

* Through this evening

* Numerous slow moving showers and thunderstorms continue to
develop across the region and should expand and redevelop with
time. Locations which are repetitively affected could receive
multiple-inch rainfall totals. This could lead to rapid rises on
streams and flash flooding of low lying areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Weather Bulletin : Flash Flood Watch : CANCELLED

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A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the areas shaded in green from Monday afternoon into Tuesday evening. For the absolute latest updates from NWS, click on the image above.

Nelson-Albemarle-Greene-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-
Central Virginia Blue Ridge-
Including the cities of Lovingston, Charlottesville,
Stanardsville, Big Meadows, and Wintergreen
801 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2020

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED…

The Flash Flood Watch for portions of central Virginia and
northwest Virginia has been cancelled.

Flooding rains are no longer expected.

 

Appomattox-Buckingham-Halifax-Charlotte-
Including the cities of Appomattox, South Boston, and Keysville
643 AM EDT Tue Aug 4 2020

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED…

The Flash Flood Watch for portions of central Virginia and south
central Virginia has been cancelled. The threat of flash flooding
producing rains has ended.

 

FLASH FLOOD WATCH
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
328 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2020

Augusta-Rockingham-Shenandoah-Page-Nelson-Albemarle-Greene-
Madison-Rappahannock-Orange-Culpeper-Spotsylvania-
Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-Central Virginia Blue Ridge-Hardy-
Including the cities of Staunton, Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft,
Harrisonburg, Strasburg, Woodstock, Mount Jackson, New Market,
Luray, Shenandoah, Stanley, Lovingston, Charlottesville,
Stanardsville, Madison, Washington, Orange, Gordonsville,
Culpeper, Fredericksburg, Big Meadows, Wintergreen,
and Moorefield
328 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2020

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING…

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a

* Flash Flood Watch for portions of Virginia and eastern West
Virginia, including the following areas, in Virginia,
Albemarle, Augusta, Central Virginia Blue Ridge, Culpeper,
Greene, Madison, Nelson, Northern Virginia Blue Ridge, Orange,
Page, Rappahannock, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Spotsylvania.
In eastern West Virginia, Hardy.

* From Monday afternoon through Tuesday evening.

* Rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to
start spreading northward late Monday afternoon and continue
through much of the day on Tuesday. Widespread rainfall totals
of 3 to 6 inches are expected with localized higher amounts
possible.

* This amount of rain is likely to result in significant flash
flooding of small streams and creeks Monday night into Tuesday
evening.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Flood Watch
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
314 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2020

…Heavy Rainfall Expected Monday through Tuesday Combination of
Stalled Frontal Systems and Outer Effects of Tropical Storm
Isaias…

.Significant amounts of rainfall are expected to begin across the
forecast area after midnight tonight and increase through the day
Monday into Tuesday as a result of a stalled frontal system
across the area, firmly entrenched deep tropical moisture, and
the outer circulation of now Tropical Storm Isaias moving
northward from along the central and northern Florida East Coast
today to just east of Danville by Tuesday morning. Upslope east
flow along the Blue Ridge later tonight and Monday combined with
an increasing fetch of tropical moisture associated with the
outer circulation of Isaias as it moves northward and then
further enhanced with disturbances aloft and the proximity of the
stalled frontal system over the area could lead to excessive
amounts of rainfall across parts of the forecast area. One area
that seems likely to see excessive amounts of rain, in the 2-
4 inch range, are the eastern slopes of Blue Ridge Mountains,
particularly from Watauga County NC northeastward toward
Rockbridge County VA. The other area that could see excessive
amounts of rain will be Southside Virginia into the Virginia and
North Carolina Piedmont or roughly the Danville, Lynchburg,
Martinsville, and Reidsville areas as the core of Isaias passes
just east of Danville early Tuesday. In these areas, 2-4 inches of
rain are likely through Tuesday with locally higher amounts. Most
of the rain in this area will occur Monday afternoon through
Tuesday morning.

Small creeks and streams could rise into flood quickly by Monday
afternoon in areas of heavy rainfall. The Watauga River and its
tributaries in western NC will be subject to flooding as early as
Monday morning. Larger main stem river flooding is less likely,
but at least minor flooding could be expected on the Dan River
basin and its tributaries later in the week.

Stokes-Yadkin-Roanoke-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Franklin-Bedford-
Amherst-Appomattox-Buckingham
Including the cities of Danbury, Yadkinville, Roanoke, Salem,
Fincastle, Lexington, Buena Vista, Rocky Mount, Bedford, Amherst,
and Appomattox
314 PM EDT Sun Aug 2 2020

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
TUESDAY EVENING…

The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has expanded the

* Flash Flood Watch to include portions of North Carolina and
Virginia, including the following areas, in North Carolina,
Stokes and Yadkin. In Virginia, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford,
Botetourt, Buckingham, Franklin, Roanoke, and Rockbridge.

* From Monday afternoon through Tuesday evening

* Excessive rainfall enhanced by the remnants of Tropical Storm
Isaias

* Small creeks and streams could rise into flood quickly on
Monday. Flash flooding can be expected in areas of quick heavy
rainfall and areas of persistent moderate or heavier rainfall.
From 2 to 4 inches of rainfall is expected in the included
counties, with locally higher amounts possible.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Remember…TURN AROUND…DON`T DROWN!

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

NELSON : TRAFFIC ALERT : UPDATED : 3:40 PM – Road Open : Another Truck Accident Blocks Route 664 Above Wintergreen Entrance

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Photos Courtesy of Wintergreen Fire & Rescue : Rescue & Fire Crews work to stop traffic from going up Route 664 toward the Blue Ridge Parkway Monday afternoon. This is the second accident on the road in the past week. July 27, 2020

Above Wintergreen Resort Entrance
Route 664 Near The Blue Ridge Parkway
Nelson County, Virginia

UPDATED : 3:40 PM – Road Open

For the second time in one week another large truck accident has closed Route 664 near the Wintergreen Resort entrance. This time a delivery truck carrying some type of platform construction materials lost its load in one of the curves above the resort entrance near the BRP.

Some type of construction materials carried on the truck shifted and fell on top of a car and the roadway. We are told the drive of the car was not injured. Monday – July 27, 2020

Another accident back on July 20th closed the road after a semi flipped just below the entrance to Wintergreen.

Expect the roadway to be closed Monday afternoon for an extended length of time.

Updates as we have them.

Nelson Receives VA Tourism Corp DMO WanderLove Recovery Grant for Tourism Marketing

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Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia

Nelson County Tourism has received $10,000 from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) DMO WanderLove Recovery Grant Program, a new grant made available to Virginia’s Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) across the Commonwealth that have been heavily impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic to fund recovery marketing initiatives. $866,504 in marketing grant funds were awarded to 90 Destination Marketing Organizations as part of the DMO WanderLove Recovery Grant program.

Nelson County Tourism will use the VTC WanderLove grant funds to position Nelson County as a road trip destination with print, social and digital media campaigns. It will leverage Nelson County’s many road trip adventures to inspire travel here this summer and fall. These road trips will also highlight and provide inspiration for outdoor recreation, hidden gems, small towns and Nelson County’s unique “roadside attraction” – LOVEworks.

Maureen Kelley, Director of Economic Development and Tourism noted, “The primary economic engine of Nelson County is tourism. Nelson County was the first accredited rural tourism program in the Commonwealth. However, because of its reliance on the hospitality business sector, the County’s tax revenue saw a sharp decline the last quarter of its fiscal year, which occurred during the beginning of the health crisis. Along with the leadership of Virginia Tourism Corporation, this grant will help position Nelson as we carefully and safely welcome visitors. There is a lot of pent-up demand for leisure travel and people are seeking safe, close-to-home destinations that allow for social distancing and access to open spaces.”

“Virginia tourism is a critical sector of our economy and has been heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “Getting travelers back on the road and spending money in our cities and towns is one of the fastest ways to inject dollars back into our economy and our communities. The Virginia Tourism Corporation’s DMO WanderLove Recovery Grants gives localities the ability to market their destination as safe and welcoming when visitors are ready to resume travel.”

Tourism is one of the Commonwealth’s largest economic engines, with visitors to Nelson County spending more than $211 million in 2018, supporting 1744 work opportunities and contributing more than $15 million in local and state tax revenue. The tourism and hospitality industries have also been among the hardest-hit by the pandemic, experiencing decreased revenue and job loss, along with the temporary closure of many tourism-related businesses. A revived tourism economy can help spur new economic activity and inject critical funds back into Virginia communities.

About Virginia Tourism Corporation

Virginia Tourism Corporation is the state agency charged with marketing the Commonwealth as a premier travel and film destination. In 2018, visitors to Virginia spent $26 billion, which supported 234,000 work opportunities and contributed $1.8 billion in state and local taxes. In 2019, Virginia is for Lovers celebrates its 50th anniversary. To learn more, visit virginia.org

Nelson / Albemarle : Severe Storms Cause Damage In Parts Of Area

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Photo By Merrilee Gumm : Severe storms that moved through Northern Nelson into Western Albermarle County Wednesday morning caused damage in the Afton area. Severe trees have been reported down and some minor flooding occurred too. Wednesday – July 22, 2020

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia

Severe thunderstorms that popped up around noon Wednesday caused some damage in the Northern part of Nelson County. Additional damage and some flooding was reported as well when the storms drifted eastely in adjoining Albemarle.

Photo By Merrilee Gumm : More trees down in Merrilees yard in Afton, Virginia – Wednesday – July 22, 2020


Above the severe thunderstorm warning that caused some of the damage around noon Wednesday.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch continues across parts of the area until 7 PM this evening.

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