Deepening low pressure tracked northeast through the Tennessee and Ohio valleys during the evening of January 31st and into the morning hours of February 1st, 2008. While the low pressure system was intensifying to our west, high pressure was strengthening to the north of the region.
Every event with a place to put it; 16 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS RNK wrote it up.
Deepening low pressure tracked northeast through the Tennessee and Ohio valleys during the evening of January 31st and into the morning hours of February 1st, 2008. While the low pressure system was intensifying to our west, high pressure was strengthening to the north of the region. This resulted in a deep flow of warm Gulf moisture riding up over a cold, but very dry air mass in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. This in combination with liquid rainfall amounts ranging from 0.50 to 1.50 inches produced a large swath of freezing rain, especially along the Blue Ridge where icing totals reached near a half inch in spots.
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 Jan 31, 10:31 PM EST, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
1031 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK NORTHEAST THROUGH THE TENNESSEE AND OHIO
VALLEY REGIONS OVERNIGHT INTO FRIDAY. THIS WILL SPREAD A SWATH OF
HEAVIER PRECIPITATION OVER THE AREA OVERNIGHT INTO FRIDAY
AFTERNOON. WITH COLD HIGH PRESSURE TO THE NORTH...MUCH OF THIS
WILL FALL AS FREEZING RAIN BEFORE DRIER AIR SWEEPS IN FROM THE
WEST BY FRIDAY NIGHT...AND CONTINUES INTO THE WEEKEND ALONG WITH
WARMER TEMPERATURES.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/...
SE WINDS CONTINUE TO INCREASE OVER THE FAR WEST WITH GUSTS TO 50
MPH AROUND MERCER AND TAZEWELL COUNTIES. THUS SENDING A QUICK
UPDATE TO RAISE A WIND ADVISORY FOR A FEW COUNTIES IN THAT AREA
THRU FRIDAY MORNING. NO ADDED CHANGES ATTM.
RADAR SHOWING INIT BANDS OF ISENTROPIC LIFT PRECIP MOVING INTO THE
SW ZONES THIS EVENING BUT SO FAR INHIBITED FROM REACHING THE
SURFACE VIA VERY DRY BOUNDARY LAYER PER DEWPOINTS/RAOBS. HOWEVER
AS BETTER LIFT HEADS NORTH AND AXIS OF DIFFLUENCE ENHANCES AFTER
MIDNIGHT...EXPECT COVERAGE TO QUICKLY INCREASE AS DEPICTED BY THE
LOCAL WRF BETWEEN 04-06Z. APPEARS AXIS OF HEAVIER RAINFALL NOW
ACROSS THE TN VALLEY WILL BE OVER THE WEST BY MORNING BEFORE
JETTING EAST AS FINAL JET MAX SWINGS UP FROM THE SW. WITH DEWPOINTS
SO DRY MAIN QUESTION WITH HOW LOW SURFACE TEMPS WILL GO PER EVAP
COOLING PRIOR TO THE HEAVIER PRECIP...AND POSSIBLE RISES UNDER
WARM RAIN PROCESSES LATE GIVEN SUCH A LARGE FORECAST WARM LAYER
ALOFT. UNFORTUNATELY LATEST WET BULBS SUGGEST A LOT OF THE BLUE
RIDGE REGION WILL LIKELY BE WELL INTO THE 20S BY 09Z...WITH RAOBS
THERMAL PROFILES SUPPORTING A GOOD SETUP FOR A SIG FREEZING RAIN
EVENT. WITH THE LATEST MODELS ALSO SUGGESTING QUITE A BIT OF QPF
RIGHT ALONG THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE BLUE RIDGE...HAVE UPPED ICE
TOTALS THERE WHERE WOULDNT BE SURPRISED TO SEE HALF INCH ICE
TOTALS IF NOT MORE THRU EARLY MORNING. OTRW PLANNING TO LEAVE
GOING WARNINGS/ADVISORYS IN PLACE ALTHO MAY NEED TO WATCH PORTIONS
OF THE WESTERN NRV FOR POSSIBLE WARNING CRITERIA PENDING HOW MUCH
QPF GETS CUT OFF TO THE SE ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE. OUT EAST...FRZG
RAIN IS POSSIBLE BUT NO ACCRETION IS EXPECTED GIVEN SUCH WARM
TEMPS AT THE ONSET. SPED UP POPS A LITTLE AS WELL OVERNIGHT WITH ALL
LOCATIONS GOING CATEGORICAL LATE ...OTRW LEFT TEMPS CLOSE TO THE
GOING FORECAST.
COLD AIR WILL BECOME VERY SHALLOW 12Z-15Z TMRW WITH WARM AIR ALOFT
WARMING THE RAIN AND INHIBITING ICE ACCRETION.
WINDS IN FAR SOUTHWEST VA WILL INCREASE AND BECOME GUSTY TONIGHT AS
SFC PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS AND CROSS-BARRIER EFFECT SETS UP.
GUSTS IN THE 30-40 MPH RANGE POSSIBLE...THO MAINLY IN AND ARND
TAZEWELL COUNTY.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY/...
SFC TEMPS SHUD WARM QUICKLY ABOVE FRZG IN MOST AREAS DURING THE
MORNING HOURS AS THE SFC HIGH RETREATS AND STRONG OCCLUDED FRONT
SWINGS THRU. ANY TRAVEL THAT CAN BE DELAYED SHOULD BE. ROAD
CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY IMPROVE RAPIDLY AFTER 8 OR 9AM. AFTERNOON
SUNSHINE IS LIKELY AND SHUD FINISH OFF MOST OF THE ICE LEFT ON THE
TREES BEFORE WINDS PICK UP LATE IN THE DAY.
COLD AIR ADVECTION AND WINDY CONDITIONS EXPECTED LATE IN THE
DAY...BUT HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN FROM THE SOUTHWEST WILL
QUICKLY TURN THINGS CALM BY SATURDAY MORNING. COLD AIR ADVECTION
SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE MINIMAL AND WILL TAPER OFF BY 12Z SAT.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
THE PROGRESSIVE PATTERN OF PACIFIC SYSTEMS COMING ONSHORE WESTERN
CONUS AND SWEEPING EASTWARD INTO OR NEAR OUR AREA LOOKS TO CONTINUE
IN THE EXTENDED PART OF THE FORECAST. HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS THE
REGION ON SUNDAY WILL START TO TRANSITION NORTH OF THE AREA ON
MONDAY IN ADVANCE OF OUR NEXT APPROACHING SOUTHERN STREAM SYSTEM.
SIMILAR TO THE CURRENTLY APPROACHING SYSTEM THE PRECIPITATION WILL
START AS A DEVELOPING PATCHY LIGHT RAIN EITHER LATE SUNDAY OR SUNDAY
NIGHT...AND FILL IN MORE DURING THE DAY MONDAY. TUESDAY WITH THE
APPROACH OF THE SYSTEMS ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT...THE PRECIPITATION
WILL BECOME MORE SHOWERY WITH INCREASING WINDS. CURRENTLY TIME OF
THE FRONTAL PASSAGE IS LATE TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING
WITH AN ASSOCIATED LINE OF SHOWERS PASSING THROUGH THE AREA WITH
WINDS INCREASING BEHIND THE FRONT. EXPECT LINGERING POST-FRONTAL
SHOWERS...WITH A CHANGE OVER OR MIX TO SHOW SHOWERS MAINLY IN THE
MOUNTAINS.
&&
.AVIATION /04Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
FREEZING RAIN...ICE AND LOW CLOUDS WILL HINDER AVIATION OPERATIONS
TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY. A LOW PRESSURE CENTER WILL LIFT NORTHEAST ACROSS
OUR REGION TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN A LARGE SWATH OF
PRECIPITATION SPREAD ACROSS THE REGION BETWEEN 00 AND 06Z...THE
PRECIPITATION MOVING INTO THE AREA FROM SOUTH TO NORTH. PRECIP
WILL START LIGHT AND BECOME HEAVIER AS NIGHT PROGRESSES.
WIDESPREAD FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE
MOUNTAINS. A BRIEF PERIOD OF SLEET IS POSSIBLE DURING THE ONSET OF
THE FREEZING RAIN/RAIN. CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES WILL DROP AT THE
ONSET OF PCPN...WITH A TRANSITION FROM VFR TO MVFR OCCURRING
AROUND MIDNIGHT...THEN IFR BY DAYBREAK FRIDAY. AIRCRAFT ICING WILL
BE AN ISSUE.
EAST OF THE MTNS SFC WINDS WILL BE OUT OF THE NORTHEAST OR EAST
THROUGH 18Z. OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN THE WINDS WILL BE OUT OF THE
EAST OR SOUTHEAST. HIGHER ELEVATION WIND GUSTS OF 20 TO 30 KTS ARE
POSSIBLE. THIS WILL BE EVIDENT...ESPECIALLY AT BLUEFIELD. (BLF)
IFR CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY AT ALL SITES FRIDAY. THESE CONDITIONS
WILL IMPROVE BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON AS THE STORM SYSTEM MOVES PAST THE
REGION. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST. TEMPERATURES
WILL WARM UP FRIDAY AFTERNOON CHANGING ALL PRECIP TO RAIN. THE
RAIN WILL END FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST WITH SOME LINGERING
RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS IN THE MOUNTAINS THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. VFR
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND WITH HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING
BACK ACROSS THE REGION. ANOTHER ROUND OF INCLEMENT WEATHER IS
EXPECTED MONDAY AND TUESDAY WITH THE CHANCE OF CIG/VIS RESTRICTIONS
AND RAIN.
&&
.RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
VA...ICE STORM WARNING UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY FOR VAZ011-014>020-
022>024-032>035.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY FOR VAZ007-009-010.
FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY FOR VAZ007-009-
010-012-013-043-045>047.
NC...ICE STORM WARNING UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY FOR NCZ001-002-018.
FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY FOR NCZ003-004-
019.
WV...ICE STORM WARNING UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY FOR WVZ044-045.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY FOR WVZ042.
FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY FOR WVZ042-043.
&&
SYNOPSIS...JH
NEAR TERM...JH/JS
SHORT TERM...AMS/JS
LONG TERM...RCS
AVIATION...KK/PMHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA 1033 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008 VAZ011-014-016>020-022>024-032>035-WVZ044-045-020345- GILES-MONTGOMERY-CARROLL-FLOYD-CRAIG-ALLEGHANY VA-BATH-ROANOKE- BOTETOURT-ROCKBRIDGE-PATRICK-FRANKLIN-BEDFORD-AMHERST-MONROE- GREENBRIER- 1033 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008 ...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. ICE STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. ICE STORM WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. VAZ007-009-010-WVZ042-020345- TAZEWELL-SMYTH-BLAND-MERCER- 1033 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY... ...FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ003-004-019-VAZ012-013-043-WVZ043-020345- SURRY-STOKES-WILKES-WYTHE-PULASKI-HENRY-SUMMERS- 1033 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008 ...FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ001-002-018-VAZ015-020345- ASHE-ALLEGHANY NC-WATAUGA-GRAYSON- 1033 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008 ...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. ICE STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. ICE STORM WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ005-006-020-VAZ044-058-059-020345- ROCKINGHAM-CASWELL-YADKIN-PITTSYLVANIA-HALIFAX-CHARLOTTE- 1033 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. VAZ045>047-020345- CAMPBELL-APPOMATTOX-BUCKINGHAM- 1033 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008 ...FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 12 PM EST FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
16 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.
A quarter of an inch of glaze occurred across the southern half of the county. The weight of the ice caused a few trees to fall.
A quarter to a third of an inch of glaze occurred across the eastern portion of county. The highest amounts were along the Blue Ridge.
A quarter to a third of an inch of glaze occurred across the county. The highest amounts were along the Blue Ridge. The weight of the ice caused trees and power lines to fall.
A quarter to half of an inch of glaze occurred across the county. The highest amounts were along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The weight of the ice brought down a few trees.
A quarter of an inch of glaze occurred across the southern half of the county. The weight of the ice caused a few trees to fall in Pembroke.
A quarter to four tenths of an inch of glaze occurred across the county. The highest amounts were south of Interstate 81.
Around a quarter inch of glaze occurred across the county.
Around a quarter inch of glaze occurred across the county.
A quarter to a third of inch of glaze occurred across the county. The highest amounts were over the northeastern section.
A quarter to a third of an inch of glaze occurred across the county. The weight of the ice caused a few trees to topple in Catawba.
A quarter of an inch of glaze occurred across the county.
A quarter of an inch of glaze occurred across the northwestern portions of the county, including Bassett.
A quarter to a third of an inch of glaze occurred across the county. The highest amounts were in the northern portion of the county.
A quarter to four tenths of an inch of glaze occurred across the county. The highest amounts were near the Blue Ridge. The weight of the ice caused downed trees in the Boones Mill area.
A quarter to a third of an inch of glaze occurred across the county. The highest amounts were near the Blue Ridge.
A quarter of an inch of glaze occurred across the western portions of the county, including Lynchburg.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, February 2008
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: 82658, 82760, 82827, 82764, 82748, 82752, 82780, 82782, 82794, 82807, 82821, 82838, 82825, 82839, 82840, 82837.