Virginia, 1996

Heavy Snow in Virginia, November 21, 1996

November 21, 1996 · NWS LWX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A burst of mid-level atmospheric energy produced a narrow band of snow from eastern West Virginia through central Virginia. East of the mountains, 1 to 2 inches of wet snow accumulated mainly on grassy surfaces, causing few problems.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.

A burst of mid-level atmospheric energy produced a narrow band of snow from eastern West Virginia through central Virginia. East of the mountains, 1 to 2 inches of wet snow accumulated mainly on grassy surfaces, causing few problems. Over mountainous counties, 2 to 5 inches fell, and several roadways became hazardous. As is typical in early season snow events, elevation played a key role in total accumulation; only Highland, Rockingham, and Greene Counties averaged 4 inches. Elevated locations such as Hardwick Mountain (southwest Orange Co) received 6 inches.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Highland

When
November 21, 4:00 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Highland forecast zone

Heavy Snow, Rockingham

When
November 21, 4:00 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Rockingham forecast zone
Coordinates
38.481, -78.872 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Greene

When
November 21, 4:00 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Greene forecast zone
Coordinates
38.298, -78.467 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Virginia in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, November 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5572776, 5572777, 5572778.