ACCORDING TO THE WEATHER REPORT, MARTINSVILLE, HENRY COUNTY AND PATRICK COUNTY ARE UNDER A WINTER STORM WARNING. UNDERWAY AT DAYBREAK ON FRIDAY MORNING, FEB. 5
AS REPORTED BY THE MARTINSVILLE BULLETIN, PAGE 1, FEBRUARY 5, 2010
The weather service put Martinsville, Henry County and Patrick County under a winter storm warning Thursday. Between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. today, snow is expected to begin falling, Silverman said. My midday, the snow is expected to change to sleet, and up to 6 inches of snow and sleet could accumulate during the day.
In the early afternoon, the sleet might change to freezing rain, which could cause the most problems, said Blacksburg National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Hudgins.
Sleet accumulates much like snow does, but freezing rain will form a layer of ice, he said. The amount of ice that builds will depend on when the freezing rain begins, but between a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch is expected to accumulate over the snow.
“If there is a quarter inch of ice, the roads will become really slick and pack down the snow underneath, making it harder to remove,� he said.
The freezing rain should taper off tonight to freezing drizzle, and there should be a break in precipitation, Hudgins said.
But not for long.
Saturday morning snow will begin again, but accumulation will be light. Hudgins said only an inch or two will accumulate Saturday, and the snow will end by afternoon.
“Whatever ice we do get will be sticking around for a good while,� said Hudgins, because cold temperatures are forecast over the coming days.
There will be no precipitation Sunday, and temperatures should be in the mid 30s with lingering clouds, he said. Temperatures will remain in the 30s Monday and Tuesday.
Low temperatures and possible ice accumulations on trees mean residents should “definitely watch out for power outages,� he said.
Appalachian Power spokesman John Shepelwich agreed. He advised that if the power goes out, never touch downed wires. They should be considered dangerous and should be reported by phone or online as soon as possible.
