PETERSBURG – Winter is coming. Again.
A massive winter storm covering much of the central and southern U.S. should arrive here sometime after 7 p.m. on Friday. Precipitation is expected to be light but steady until about 11 p.m. Then snowfall will increase and we will see most of the expected 4 to 6 inches that the National Weather Service office in Wakefield expects for us.
The snow will begin to taper off after sunrise Saturday and should be completely gone by Saturday afternoon.
NWS said snow began falling in far southwestern Virginia around 5 p.m.
This chart from the National Weather Service shows the expected arrival time of snow in Virginia on Friday, January 10, 2025. The red band covers the Tri-City area.
Getting ready
Across the area, state and local officials prepared for the storm’s arrival. In Petersburg, a statement from the city said that the main roads through the city had been treated in advance on Friday. First responders and the Petersburg Public Works Department will be on duty throughout the storm to keep the scene as safe as possible.
The city also issued the typical advice to citizens to stay off the roads as much as possible and travel only when necessary.
“With less traffic, road crews can better cover the streets,” the statement said. “Residents are also asked to use on-site parking if available.”
Central and southern Virginia were expected to feel hard hit
Unlike last weekend’s storm, which dropped as much as a foot of snow in northern Virginia, this weekend’s storm appears to be targeting central and southern Virginia.
The dividing line between 3 to 4 inches of snow and 4 to 6 inches of snow is between Richmond and Petersburg, NWS maps indicate. The further north you go, the less accumulation you can expect.
This chart from the National Weather Service shows projected snowfall amounts over Virginia from Friday evening through Saturday morning.
Snow bands extend from Louisa County to the Virginia-North Carolina line. The largest of those bands stretches from Farmville through Petersburg and on to Accomac on the east coast.
The projected totals drop a bit as you move towards Tidewater and further into North Carolina.
If you must drive, the Virginia Department of Transportation recommends checking 511Virginia first, either online or through the app.
This is a development story.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg prepares for second snow in a week
