Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Virginia, January 27 to 28, 1998

A winter storm developed along the Georgia coast on the 27th, then intensified as it moved slowly northward along the coast later on the 27th and 28th. The cyclone, which tracked to the Virginia capes by late afternoon on the 28th, spread a variety of winter weather across the northern and central Shenandoah Valley during a 24-hour period. as had been the case with other episodes during the 1997/98 winter, accumulations varied greatly with elevation. From the Skyline Drive to the Shenandoah Mountain and North Mountain range, accumulations ranged from around 4 inches in the valleys to 8 inches above 1500 feet. West of the Shenandoah Range, in the plateau region of Highland Co (VAZ021), accumulations ranged from 12 to 18 inches.The weight of the snow caused numerous tree limbs and some trees to fall in areas where more than one foot of snow accumulated, mainly in Highland Co .Warmer air circulating around the storm caused a rain/sleet/snow mix over the northern Shenandoah Valley, where between 1 and 3 inches of wet snow accumulated. Similar accumulations were noted along the foothills just east of the Blue Ridge.