The forecast for Hampton Roads this weekend has improved in recent days, but meteorologists still predict the likelihood of severe winter weather, including the chance for significant ice and snow, affecting many of our communities.
Dealing with a few flakes or even flurries is nothing new for our region, and we’re less than a year removed from a storm that blanketed the area with 13 inches of snow in some places. But an ice storm would be substantially different, and could leave parts of Hampton Roads without power — perhaps for a while.
So it’s important that those who can make appropriate preparations do so quickly, but also that they check in with their neighbors with offers to assist in case conditions turn dangerous. Adversity can make communities stronger, and this is an opportunity to forge stronger bonds with those around you to ensure everyone gets through this safely.
According to the latest reports on Thursday morning, modeling suggests that a massive, 2,000-mile-long winter storm driving east could wallop a stretch of the country from the Plains to New England over the weekend, affecting an estimated 225 million people. Some places are expected to see between 10-20 inches of snow, but the real worry is the dreaded “wintry mix” of sleet and freezing rain that could paralyze many states.
Locally, what looked earlier in the week to be a serious threat has lessened somewhat in each subsequent forecast update. A winter storm watch was issued Thursday, and while some areas may see snow accumulation, the fear is that freezing rain could disrupt transportation and result in widespread power outages.
Unlike places farther south, the coastal region is a good bet to see snow nearly every year so even a few inches wouldn’t be much of a bother. Hampton Roads also has extensive experience with other extreme weather events, including hurricanes and tropical storms, so residents here know how to prepare for inclement conditions.
However, ice poses a different problem entirely. Even a thin glaze of ice can render roads and sidewalks not merely treacherous, but impossible to navigate, meaning people need to stay put until it thaws. Only a quarter-inch of ice is enough to snap tree branches, while a half-inch can take down larger limbs and power lines.
Dominion Energy is readying for what could be a huge challenge in these conditions, telling The Pilot and Daily Press that the company is stockpiling materials and equipment to prepare for “a multi-day power restoration effort.” But those line-workers, whose efforts deserve our gratitude in these situations, will be affected by road conditions as well.
That could mean some areas of our region may be without power for a while if we really see the worst of this. And with temperatures expected to drop into the teens after the storm passes, there’s no telling how long the wait could be for power restoration or how widespread the problems could be.
Not only should residents prepare accordingly by checking their emergency supplies and nonperishable food items in case of power loss, but they should take this opportunity, while the skies are still clear, to check on those around them — their friends, neighbors and other community members — to determine if they may need help in the coming days.
Cities, especially those on the Peninsula, should be opening warming shelters for homeless people to ensure their safety, while those who can do so should touch base with their older neighbors who may need a little extra assistance or may be unprepared for this storm.
Even as we hope for the best, it makes sense to prepare for the worst. History, along with the forecast track, suggests this could end up being little more than a rainstorm, and that others will face far worse conditions. But this is an opportunity to build community, to look out for one another and to make certain that no one faces excessive risk should Hampton Roads get sleet and ice this weekend.
