NORFOLK, Va. — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is urging people to stay safe with winter weather in the forecast for the western parts of the state this weekend.
The winter weather is expected to begin late Friday night in southwestern Virginia and will continue through parts of the state overnight and through Saturday. According to VDOT, the impacts will likely be focused in areas such as Bristol, Salem, Staunton, western Culpeper, and northern Virginia.
There is also the chance of snowfall, along with mixed precipitation and freezing rain, in northwestern Virginia areas. The highest chances are in western Staunton, Culpeper, and northern Virginia, where VDOT said there's a possibility of accumulating snowfall of six to eight inches.
To prepare for the weather, VDOT said crews are pretreating bridges and roadways in some places and will monitor roadways. People are encouraged to pack an emergency kit and blankets, and have their devices fully charged in case there's an emergency.
“It’s important to remember that the safest place during a winter storm is indoors,” VDOT Chief Deputy Commissioner Cathy McGhee wrote in a news release.
“When travelers stay off the roads during a winter storm, transportation workers and public safety officials can clear roads and respond more quickly to emergency needs. With the possibility of snow, mixed precipitation, and freezing rain in some areas, motorists should be vigilant, track local weather along their routes, and change their travel plans if conditions worsen.”
Will the winter weather affect Coastal Virginia?
No, because the temperatures will be much warmer than the inland areas. Rainfall amounts look to be around ½" of rain. Temperatures will be in the mid-50s during the afternoon.
For the latest road conditions across Virginia, visit 13News Now's Traffic page.