Ice Storm in Virginia, March 28 to 29, 1996

A strong surface high pressure area over New England pushed a shallow layer of subfreezing air into the Shenandoah Valley early on the 28th. An inverted trough of low pressure west of the Appalachians promoted overrunning of warm moist air, which eventually produced light to moderate precipitation. The precipitation fell as rain higher than 2000 feet and below 500 feet above mean sea level; between 500 and 2000 feet, where temperatures were as low as 28°F, the precipitation froze on contact.Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down at these elevations in the western Shenandoah Valley, mainly during the late evening of the 28th and early morning of the 29th. Problems began, however, during the morning of the 28th. Virginia Power and Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative reported over 3000 customers without power. Fifty automobile accidents were reported by Augusta Co (VAZ025) authorities, both during the morning and evening of the 28th.