Christmas Eve: A.M frozen fog, P.M. ice

Christmas Eve sunrise in western Augusta County, Virginia.
Sun rises behind our house as a foot of snow remains on ground and frozen fog can be seen on tree branches.

Frozen fog has added a magical white layer to tree branches, shrubs, and even the Christmas greenery on the deck this morning as overnight lows bottomed out at 14 degrees west of Staunton. The forecast is calling for a winter storm reaching our area tonight bringing ice and freezing rain to the foot of snow still on the ground.

According to WHSV TV3:

A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for the entire viewing area from late Thursday night through Friday afternoon. Freezing rain is expected across the area with ice accumulations of at least a quarter inch possible.

This will be the third round of winter weather in three weeks in the Shenandoah Valley. Global warming, indeed.

Photo by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
24 December 2009

Ice-covered Valley

Trees were ice-covered this morning after an icy mixture passed through the Shenandoah Valley Tuesday night. Temps hovered around 32 degrees overnight but are expected to reach a high of 50 Wednesday. There is a fog alert on Afton Mountain ... Augusta County schools ran one hour late for the second morning in a row ... roadways for the most part appeared to be in good shape. A cold front moves in overnight and daytime highs for the next five days are only expected in the 30s. It's winter in the Shenandoah Valley....

Photo by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
9 December 2009

Winter in the Shenandoah Valley ... reflections of Friday's ice storm

The February 1, 2008, ice storm....
The Win the War sign stood through the icy storm....

And then the sun came out over Buffalo Gap....








The sun came out and the thaw began. Even with the weight of all that ice, thankfully we didn't have many broken tree limbs or downed trees. With predictions of temps well above freezing this week, the ice storm of a few days ago will be a distant memory.

Photos by SWAC Daughter and SWAC Girl

Winter in the Valley ... midday and the ice is getting worse

The Subaru is covered with branches as the river birch, weighed down by ice, droops on top of it.

Icy woods....

Icy deck....

Palmer Kitty knows how to spend a cold winter day.

It is past noon and the ice, which was supposed to be melting by now, is getting worse. Icicles on the railings and tree limbs are growing even longer ... trees are leaning down to the ground ... we still have freezing rain and sleet as the temperature remains right at 32 degrees. The satellite went out hours ago ... the power has surged but is still on for now. The woodstove is cranked and we are snug.

It's winter in the Valley....

Photos by SWAC Girl

Shenandoah Valley ... more ice photos

Photos by SWAC Girl

Icy winter weather in the Valley....

It is c-o-l-d outside this morning ... a damp chill that penetrates clothing as the icy rain continues. I ventured out for the first time around 7:30 but did not make it past the porch because of the heavy rain. Tree limbs could be heard groaning under the weight of the ice ... icicles are growing longer on railings, vehicles, picnic table, bird feeder, and anything else outside.

The weather mix is predicted to move out by noon. Let's hope the tree limbs hold up that long.

It's winter in the Valley....



Photos by SWAC Girl

Ice in the Shenandoah Valley....

*** A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Highland, Augusta, Rockingham, Page and Shenandoah counties in Virginia and Pendleton, Grant and Hardy counties West Virginia. It is in effect until Noon today. There could be ice accumulations of up to 1/4 inch. Travel may be impacted. *** -- WHSV TV-3

The electricity at our house blipped at 3:00 a.m. It is back on but there is an icy mess outside as the temperature hovers just below freezing. Power outages are possible throughout the morning as ice builds up on trees and power lines. The Richmond and Waynesboro newspapers have not arrived yet. Secondary roads are reported to be slushy and slick as the icy rain continues.

School closings as of 7:00 a.m. Some of those on delays may end up closing if the ice continues into the morning so check WHSV for updates.

Augusta County Schools: Closed Today
Bath County Public Schools: Closed Today
Blue Ridge Community College: Closed Today
Cornerstone Christian School: Delayed 2 hours
Eastern WV Comm. & Tech. College: Opening at 10:00 AM
Faith Primary School: Closed Today
Good Shepherd School - Harrisonburg: Delayed 2 hours; Child care open
Good Shepherd School - Waynesboro: Delayed 2 hours; Child care open
Grace Christian School: Closed Today
Hampshire County Schools: Closed Today
Hardy County Schools: Closed Today
Harrisonburg City Schools: Closed Today
Harrisonburg First Church of Nazarene: Kid's Harbor Closed Tody
Highland County Schools: Closed Today
Hunter McGuire School: Delayed 2 hours
Madison County Schools: Delayed 2 hours
Mary Baldwin College: Opening at 10:00 AM
Mt. Carmel Christian Academy: Closed Today
National College: Opening at 10:30 AM
Navy Base/Sugar Grove WV: Opening at 10:00 AM
Nelson County Schools: Closed Today
Page County Schools: Closed Today
Pendleton County Schools: Closed Today
Redeemer Classical School: Closed Today
Ridgeview Christian School: Closed Today
Riverfront Christian School: Closed Today; No evening activities
Rockbridge County Schools: Closed Today
Rockingham County Schools: Closed Today
Shenandoah County Schools: Closed Today
Shenandoah Valley Academy: Opening at 9:00 AM; Inclement Weather Schedule
Spring Creek Christian School: Closed Today
Staunton City Schools: Delayed 2 hours
Staunton Montessori School: Opening at 10:30 AM
Staunton School of Cosmetology: Delayed 2 hours
Stuart Hall: Delayed 2 hours
VA School For Deaf & Blind: Closed Today
VA School For Deaf & Blind/Employees: Closed Today
Valley Baptist Christian: Closed Today; Science Fair as scheduled
Waynesboro Public Schools: Delayed 2 hours
Winchester City Public Schools: Closed Today; Admin Offices Open At Noon

Winter in the Shenandoah Valley ... ice storm