Storms coming int the area on Tuesday could bring 3 to 5 inches of snow. (Nicole Trifone/WYDaily)
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning ahead of an incoming storm that could dump between 3 and 5 inches of snow in the Historic Triangle on Tuesday.
The warning is in effect and runs until midnight Tuesday. Along with the potential snowfall, forecasters predict winds averaging 10 to 20 mph with gusts of up to 30 mph in the afternoon and evening. The heaviest snowfall will also come during that time.
According to the warning, “accumulating snowfall will cause roads to become snow covered and slippery. Travel conditions will become dangerous late this afternoon through this evening.”
Temperatures are expected to drop quickly Tuesday night, leading to wind chills below zero to near zero Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. A high of 36 degrees is predicted for Tuesday, with a low around 12 degrees Tuesday night. On Wednesday, there is a slight chance of snow before 8 a.m. and a high near 28.
The rest of the week’s weather is predicted to be partly cloudy and mostly sunny with temperatures in the 20s and 30s.
The Virginia Department of Transportation has started pretreating roads in anticipation of the storm. Pretreating is a process where chemicals are applied to roadways up to 48 hours before a storm, which prevents a bond from forming between the pavement and snow and ice.
Crews across Hampton Roads will mobilize Tuesday morning to monitor and treat the roads as conditions warrant.
VDOT recommends drivers delay their travel during winter weather. If travel is a necessity, use extreme caution.
Check out VDOT’s real-time traffic website by clicking here. You can also call 511 or 361-3016 for information on traffic or tune into Highway Advisory Radio at 1680 AM.