Ice Storm in Virginia, December 15, 2005

Name: Ice Storm in Virginia, December 15, 2005
Start: 2005-12-15T13:00
End: 2005-12-15T22:09
Location: Virginia

December 15, 2005 · NWS RNK · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

A winter storm moved across southwest Virginia on the afternoon and night of the 15th of December. A band of sleet, snow and freezing rain moved through the region.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $108,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 12

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 RNK wrote it up.

A winter storm moved across southwest Virginia on the afternoon and night of the 15th of December. A band of sleet, snow and freezing rain moved through the region. As the storm progressed east, it coated the area with a 1/4 to 3/4 inch of ice. Appalachian Power reported that falling trees, tree limbs and power lines interrupt electric service to 38,000 customers especiallyin Campbell, Patrick, Henry and Carroll counties. Close to 10,000 customers lost power in the Lynchburg area. The Virginia State Police reported numerous accidents.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Blacksburg, VA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 15, 12:43 PM EST, 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 15, 12:43 PM EST, 17 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1243 PM EST THU DEC 15 2005

.AVIATION...

WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION WITH LIFR/IFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED
THROUGH EARLY EVENING...BEFORE THE STORM SYSTEM BEGINS TO EXIT.
PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE OVER TO RAIN IN DANVILLE/BLUEFIELD BY LATE
AFTERNOON AND BY EARLY EVENING IN ROA/LYH. LOOK FOR A FEW LIGHT
SNOW SHOWERS AT LWB AND BLF LATE THIS EVENING/EARLY
OVERNIGHT...WITH VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED AFTER 06Z IN THE
PIEDMONT. BLUEFIELD WILL KEEP THE LOW CLOUDS LONGER PRETTY MUCH
FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD...WITH CIGS RISING TO 1KFT BY 10Z. LWB WILL
SEE MVFR CIGS BY 09Z.

.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
(ISSUED 853 AM EST THU DEC 15 2005)

SHORT TERM (REST OF TODAY)...

12Z BLACKSBURG SOUNDING CAME IN QUITE COLD...SO I RAISED THE
SNOW/SLEET ACCUMULATIONS ABOUT AN INCH MAINLY FOR THE VA HIGHLANDS
AND GREENBRIER IN WEST VIRGINIA. OTHERWISE...STILL LOOKS LIKE WE
ARE FACING A MAJOR ICING EVENT WITH QPF OF MORE THAN INCH...AND
SURFACE TEMPERATURES IN THE 20S. WE ADDED CASWELL...HALIFAX AND
CHARLOTTE COUNTIES TO THE ICE STORM WARNING. THEY HAVE GOTTEN OFF
TO SUCH A COLD START THAT THEY ARE LIKELY TO SEE A QUARTER INCH OF
ICING BEFORE THEY WARM ABOVE FREEZING THIS AFTERNOON. UPDATED
ZFPRNK WILL BE ISSUED SOON.

PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
(ISSUED 633 AM EST THU DEC 15 2005)

SHORT TERM (REST OF TODAY)...

BAND OF HEAVIER PRECIP HAS RESULTED IN MORE SNOWFALL FROM THE
NORTHERN NC MOUNTAINS INTO THE NEW RIVER VALLEY EARLY THIS MORNING
AS EVAPORATIVE/DYNAMICAL COOLING HAS TAKEN PLACE. REPORTS SHOW UP
TO AN INCH OF SNOW/SLEET ALREADY SO WILL UPDATE TO UP SNOWFALL
AMOUNTS TO 1-3 INCHES BEFORE CHANGEOVER OCCURS. NEW MODELS INCLUDING
THE NAM SUGGEST A SLOWER CHANGE TO -FZRA AS COLUMN HAS COOLED INTO
AN ISOTHERMAL SCENARIO AT TIMES. UPDATE OUT SHORTLY.

PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
(ISSUED 617 AM EST THU DEC 15 2005)

AVIATION...

VFR CONDITIONS ON THE DECLINE AS LOW TRACKS ALONG THE GULF STATES
AND PCPN SHIELD ADVANCING INTO E TN/W NC THIS EVENING. WINTERY PCPN
TO CONTINUE TO MARCH TO THE NORTH THROUGH THIS MORNING. VFR
CONDITIONS DROPPING TO IFR/LIFR WITH ONSET OF PCPN (SN/PL)
FOLLOWED BY FZRA. POOR FLYING CONDITIONS WILL EXIST LATE TONIGHT
AND THURSDAY. MOUNTAIN RIDGES OBSCURRED WITH ICING PROBLEMS
LIKELY.

PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
(ISSUED 305 AM EST THU DEC 15 2005)

SHORT TERM (TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT)...

LEADING EDGE OF MIXED PRECIP SHIELD APPROACHING FROM THE SW AND SHOULD
CROSS THE NW NC MOUNTAINS 09-10Z...THEN THE SW VA RIDGES AND NEW RIVER
VALLEY 10-12Z. HOWEVER AIR ACROSS THE AREA REMAINS QUITE DRY AND COULD
EASILY SEE EARLY PRECIP GET SLOWED BY RH GOING TO MOISTENING THE
COLUMN. OTHERWISE QUESTIONS AGAIN WITH PTYPE THRU THIS EVENING AND HOW
MUCH QPF THAT COULD LEAD TO MAJOR ICING PROBLEMS WHERE MAJORITY ENDS UP
FREEZING RAIN. SPECIAL 06Z RAOBS CLOSER TO GFS AND INDICATE A SATURATED
WARM NOSE AT 85H WHILE AIR BELOW COLDER/DRIER...WHILE OPEN TO QUITE
A BIT OF EVAPORATIVE COOLING AT THE ONSET...MORE INDICATIVE OF A SLEET
SCENARIO. MODELS ALSO NOW MORE IN LINE WITH TRACK OF SURFACE LOW UP
THRU EASTERN NC THIS EVENING BEFORE EXITING EASTERN VA OVERNIGHT. AGAIN
THICKNESS PROFILES DIFFERING FROM A WARMER NAM/RUC TO A COLDER GFS
WHICH SHOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ISOTHERMAL LAYER PER STRONG UVV...WITH
MORE SNOW ESPCLY IN A SWATH JUST WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE THRU MIDDAY.
THUS PLAN TO INCLUDE A BIT MORE SNOW/SLEET MENTION WITH 1-3 INCHES
POSSIBLE MAINLY N THRU NOON.

BEST ISENTROPIC LIFT DEVELOPS BY EARLY/MID AFTERNOON WHEN SE JET
STRENGTHENS AND DEEPER WAA ARRIVES OVERTOP COLD POOL. THIS SHOULD BE
THE PERIOD OF HEAVIEST PRECIP WITH THE MODELS GIVING OVER AN INCH
EASTERN SLOPES EASTWARD THRU THIS EVENING. APPEARS SOME CUTOFF OF
INFLOW BY SE CONVECTION STILL POSSIBLE SO SOMETHING TO WATCH LATER TO
SEE IF BEST QPF SHIFTS MORE THRU EASTERN NC. OTHERWISE THINK SLOWER
ARRIVAL MAY HELP THE FAR SE AVOID WARNING CRITERIA AND WITH QUICK JUMP
IN THICKNESS WILL LEAVE GOING ADVISORY IN PLACE. ELSEWHERE...TIMING TO
CHANGE OF ALL -FZRA CRITICAL AS EXPECT COLD POCKET WILL BE STUCK NEW
RIVER VALLEY NEWD THRU AFTERNOON WHILE WARMING LEAKS IN FROM THE SE
TOWARD THE BLUE RIDGE. THIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH UPSLOPE MAY CAUSE BIG
ICING PROBLEMS EASTERN SLOPES WHERE WILL INDICATE A HALF INCH OF ICE OR
MORE. OTHERWISE MIXED BAG EARLY WITH ALL EXCEPT POSSIBLY THE GBRIER
VALLEY AND SOUTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY GOING OVER TO -FZRA THIS
AFTERNOON. HIGHS VERY TRICKY AND DEPENDENT ON EARLY EVAPORATIVE COOLING
ESPCLY SOUTH. ALSO GIVEN COLD GROUND HAVING A HARD TIME SEEING MUCH OF
THE WEST GOING ABOVE FREEZING ESPCLY CAD REGION...SO WILL UNDERCUT MOS
AND PROBABLY COULD GO MORE PENDING RELEASE VALUES.

MAJORITY OF PRECIP EXITS BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT AS LOW PULLS OUT AND WEAK
WRAP AROUND BRINGS SOME -SHSN TO THE NW. PLAN TO LINGER POCKETS OF
-FRZA BLUE RIDGE THIS EVENING BEFORE CAD GETS SCOURED BY W/NW FLOW
OVERNIGHT. SINCE CAA A BIT SLOWER WILL CUT BACK ON SNOW SHOWER COVERAGE
AND KEEP TEMPS UP SOME GIVEN MIXING. MAY BE CLOSE TO ADVISORY LEVELS
TONIGHT NW NC AND NOT A GOOD SITUATION WITH ICE AROUND SO WILL BOOST
WINDS A BIT AS WELL AND MENTION IN UPDATED WSW THIS MORNING.

LONG TERM (FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...

NEXT S/W LOBE WILL SWING BY TO THE NORTH FRIDAY AIDING UPSLOPE -SHSN
BUT EXPECT COVERAGE LIMITED BY WEST OR EVEN WSW FLOW. OTHERWISE MORE
CLOUDS NW TO PC OR MOSTLY SUNNY EAST UNDER DOWNSLOPE. WILL UNDERCUT
HIGHS SOME PER LIKELY RESIDUAL ICE/SLEET PACK IN PLACE. HEIGHTS
ACTUALLY INCREASE A BIT ON SATURDAY BUT STILL UNDERCUT BY ARCTIC HIGH
TO THE WEST SO ANY WARMUP MODEST AT THIS POINT. THIS BEFORE YET ANOTHER
SOUTHERN STREAM S/W SLIDES ACROSS THE SE STATES SUNDAY WITH NORTHWARD
EXTENT OF PRECIP IFFY AT THIS POINT. HOWEVER MOST GUIDANCE A BIT
FARTHER NORTH CLIPPING THE FAR SOUTHERN ZONES DURING SUNDAY. MAINLY
QUIET BUT COLD INTO NEXT WEEK UNDER STRONG RIDGE BUILDING EAST AND
CONFLUENT FLOW ALOFT.

AVIATION...

VFR CONDITIONS ON THE DECLINE AS LOW TRACKS ALONG THE GULF STATES AND
PCPN SHIELD ADVANCING INTO E TN/W NC THIS EVENING. WINTRY PCPN TO ENTER
RNK CWA AROUND 08Z THU (NW NC) THEN MARCH TO THE NORTH THROUGH THU
MORNING. VFR CONDITIONS DROPPING TO IFR/LIFR WITH ONSET OF PCPN (SN/PL)
FOLLOWED BY FZRA THEN EVENTUALLY RAIN. POOR FLYING CONDITIONS WILL
EXIST LATE TONIGHT AND THURSDAY. MOUNTAIN RIDGES OBSCURED WITH ICING
PROBLEMS LIKELY.

&&

.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...ICE STORM WARNING FOR VAZ007-009-015 UNTIL 6 PM THURSDAY.
  ...ICE STORM WARNING FOR VAZ010>014-016>020-022>024-032>035-
     043>047-058-059 UNTIL 9 PM THURSDAY.
NC...ICE STORM WARNING FOR NCZ001>004-018>020 UNTIL 6 PM THURSDAY.
  ...ICE STORM WARNING FOR NCZ005-006 UNTIL 9 PM THURSDAY.
WV...ICE STORM WARNING FOR WVZ042>045 UNTIL 9 PM THURSDAY.
&&

05

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 15, 8:29 AM EST, 4 hours 31 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
829 AM EST THU DEC 15 2005

VAZ010>014-016>020-WVZ042>045-160930-
BLAND-GILES-WYTHE-PULASKI-MONTGOMERY-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-
ALLEGHANY-BATH-MERCER-SUMMERS-MONROE-GREENBRIER-
829 AM EST THU DEC 15 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST
VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

AN ICE STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING. A
WINTRY MIX OF SLEET...SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED THIS
MORNING...WITH PRECIPITATION TRANSITIONING OVER THE MAINLY
FREEZING RAIN BY THE AFTERNOON...WITH SIGNIFICANT ICING
ANTICIPATED.

PLEASE SEE OUR WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS AT:

HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/RNK

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NEEDED. PLEASE EMAIL YOUR REPORTS OF
SNOW...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN ACCUMULATIONS TO:

RNK.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV

NCZ005-006-VAZ022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059-160930-
ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-ROANOKE-BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-
BEDFORD-AMHERST-HENRY-PITTSYLVANIA-CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM-
HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE-
829 AM EST THU DEC 15 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
NORTH CAROLINA...CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

AN ICE STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING. A
WINTRY MIX OF SLEET...SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED THIS
MORNING...WITH PRECIPITATION TRANSITIONING OVER THE MAINLY
FREEZING RAIN BY THE AFTERNOON...WITH SIGNIFICANT ICING
ANTICIPATED.

PLEASE SEE OUR WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS AT:

HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/RNK

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NEEDED. PLEASE EMAIL YOUR REPORTS OF
SNOW...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN ACCUMULATIONS TO:

RNK.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV

NCZ002>004-019-020-160930-
ALLEGHANY-SURRY-STOKES-WILKES-YADKIN-
829 AM EST THU DEC 15 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

AN ICE STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING. A
WINTRY MIX OF SLEET...SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED THIS
MORNING...WITH PRECIPITATION TRANSITIONING OVER THE MAINLY
FREEZING RAIN BY THE AFTERNOON...WITH SIGNIFICANT ICING
ANTICIPATED.

PLEASE SEE OUR WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS AT:

HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/RNK

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NEEDED. PLEASE EMAIL YOUR REPORTS OF
SNOW...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN ACCUMULATIONS TO:

RNK.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV

NCZ001-018-VAZ007-009-015-160930-
ASHE-WATAUGA-TAZEWELL-SMYTH-GRAYSON-
829 AM EST THU DEC 15 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST NORTH
CAROLINA AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

AN ICE STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING. A
WINTRY MIX OF SLEET...SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED THIS
MORNING...WITH PRECIPITATION TRANSITIONING OVER THE MAINLY
FREEZING RAIN BY THE AFTERNOON...WITH SIGNIFICANT ICING
ANTICIPATED.

PLEASE SEE OUR WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS AT:

HTTP://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/RNK

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NEEDED. PLEASE EMAIL YOUR REPORTS OF
SNOW...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN ACCUMULATIONS TO:

RNK.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Rockbridge

When: December 15, 1:00 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where: Rockbridge forecast zone
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.774, -79.418 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Campbell

When: December 15, 1:04 PM EST to 10:09 PM EST
Where: Campbell forecast zone
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.310, -79.119 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Wythe

When: December 15, 2:30 PM EST to 8:05 PM EST
Where: Wythe forecast zone
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.917, -81.079 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Patrick

When: December 15, 2:30 PM EST to 8:30 PM EST
Where: Patrick forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.678, -80.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Franklin

When: December 15, 2:30 PM EST to 8:30 PM EST
Where: Franklin forecast zone
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.992, -79.881 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Henry

When: December 15, 2:30 PM EST to 8:35 PM EST
Where: Henry forecast zone
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.689, -79.926 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Carroll

When: December 15, 2:40 PM EST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.697, -80.829 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Floyd

When: December 15, 3:00 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Floyd forecast zone
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.932, -80.362 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Bedford

When: December 15, 3:00 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Bedford forecast zone
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.315, -79.524 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Amherst

When: December 15, 3:00 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where: Amherst forecast zone
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.605, -79.145 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Pittsylvania

When: December 15, 3:00 PM EST to 8:58 PM EST
Where: Pittsylvania forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.704, -79.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Buckingham

When: December 15, 3:00 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Buckingham forecast zone
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 37.572, -78.529 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm: Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Virginia in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, December 2005

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5482408, 5482402, 5482403, 5482405, 5482406, 5482407, 5482411, 5482404, 5482409, 5482410, 5482412, 5482413.