Heavy Snow in Virginia, February 2, 1996

Snow, sleet and freezing rain developed in southwest Virginia during the late evening hours on the 1st and spread northeast. Heavy snow fell generally along and north of a line from Mount Rogers in northwestern Grayson County to Bent Mountain in southern Roanoke County to Pamplin on the Appomattox/Charlotte County line. Snowfall amounts along and north of this line ranged from 4 to 6 inches in Alleghany, Bath, and Rockbridge Counties and generally from 6 to 10 inches elsewhere. Snowfall amounts of up to 15 inches were reported in the mountains of Smyth County. Significant accumulations of ice occurred in Henry, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Charlotte Counties.Private contractors were hired to assist in clearing roads along and north of a line from Mount Rogers to Bent Mountain to Pamplin City. South of this line, freezing rain and sleet were common. The weight of the ice broke off tree limbs and downed power line. At one time it was estimated that half of Halifax County was without power. In southern portions of Pittsylvania County, 2500 locations were without power. Snow and sleet accumulations in Grayson, Carroll, Floyd, Patrick and Franklin Counties as well as northern portions of Pittsylvania, Halifax and Charlotte Counties ranged from 2 to 4 inches. Hazardous travel conditions resulted in numerous traffic accidents and some injuries. The wintery precipitation resulted in the closing of many schools and some businesses and the cancellation of many church services. The precipitation diminished significantly across the area during the early morning hours on the 2nd.