Ice Storm and Winter Weather in Virginia, December 13 to 14, 2000

A strong cold front brought chilly air into the region on the 12th. By the afternoon of the 13th, an upper level disturbance brought warm air into the mid levels of the atmosphere and caused snow that fell from the system to melt to rain on its way down. When the rain hit the ground where temperatures were below freezing, ice accumulated. Across the Shenandoah Valley and much of Northern Virginia, the ice accumulated to between one quarter and three quarters of an inch. The weight of the ice brought down some trees, branches, telephone lines, and power lines. Nearly 50,000 customers lost power across Northern Virginia for a short time. Roads were turned into sheets of ice and several traffic accidents were reported. Along the Interstate 81 corridor, law enforcement advised drivers to remain at home overnight after road conditions rapidly deteriorated. Near the Potomac River south of Washington D.C. and across the Central Piedmont, temperatures remained closed to the freezing mark so ice accumulations were less than one quarter of an inch and only caused minor inconveniences.