Family of Texas boy who died during winter storm suing power companies for $100M
The law firm of Houston attorney Tony Buzbee is representing the Pineda family in the lawsuit over the death of 11-year-old Cristian Pineda. โCommon sense tells you the weather played a part in his death,โ Buzbee said. โWhatโs interesting about this whole ordeal is what these power providers and ERCOT knew long before many of us knew it,โ Buzbee said. Entergy released the following written statement about the lawsuit: โWe are deeply saddened by the loss of life in our community. We are unable to comment due to pending litigation.โOur sister station, KPRC 2, has also asked ERCOT for a statement regarding the lawsuit.
Foster Fuels provides storm relief both in and out of Virginia
CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. โ A local company is helping people in the Commonwealth and beyond. Foster Fuels has more than 200 employees and trucks on the roads, working overtime to serve 20,000 customers in Virginia. Weโre told many employees are trying to survive themselves while getting the job done. Itโs a lot, but thatโs what weโre here for,โ said Chelsea Harrison, vice president of marketing for Foster Fuels. Crews are also helping Texas and Northern Virginia.
VDOT prepares for more wintry weather while cleaning up latest ice storm
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ VDOT is preparing for this round of winter weather, but they arenโt done cleaning up from last weekโs ice storm. Crews pretreated roads and got the equipment ready all while working with utility providers to reopen roads as quickly as possible. โPeople donโt know what theyโre going to encounter. Theyโre better off staying at home and sheltering in place. As of Wednesday afternoon, Central Virginia crews were still working on 50 secondary roads closed from last weekโs storm.
Smith Mountain Lake couple has power restored after 100 hours, but prepares for next potential outage
BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. โ A bit of good news in all the recent power outages: some parts of our area have power once again. One couple we spoke with near Smith Mountain Lake had the lights turned back on around 2 p.m. Wednesday, after about 100 hours. โWeโre lucky we have a lake so we can get water to use, and we have gas logs. That was about it, and we had battery-operated lights and flashlights,โ said Vincent Ostermeier, a Dixie Acres resident. He said they also used coolers to keep food fresh, had their batteries charging and got the ice ready for another potential outage.
PHOTOS: Ice adding up in parts of Southwest, Central Virginia
ROANOKE, Va. โ Yet another winter storm is moving through southwest and central Virginia Saturday. This time, freezing rain is the main concern. Your Local Weather Authority has an updated timeline of the storm here. Send us your pictures, videos, etc.
Slick, drizzly Friday with more rain, freezing rain to come Saturday
While roads may improve a bit beyond the morning, we will still have to watch for slick spots throughout the day. TimingAs another storm system moves in from the south, this sets the stage for another round of freezing rain after 6 or 7 a.m. Saturday. AdFutureTracker - 10 a.m. SaturdayAs a southeast wind begins, we should start to see any freezing rain change to a chilly rain in parts of Grayson, Wythe, Carroll, Pulaski and Bland Counties by midday or early afternoon. Moving ForwardWeโll start with slick/icy spots Valentineโs Day morning and temperatures near freezing. Weโre once again looking at the chance for freezing rain and rain Tuesday morning.
Multiple rounds of wintry weather possible in the next week; starting Thursday night
FutureTracker - 2 p.m. ThursdayAs colder air seeps farther south, we gradually start to see things changing over. FutureTracker - 7 p.m. ThursdayAs the night wanes on, weโll notice that wintry mix creep farther to the south. So, it will rain longest the farther south you go before changing over to some freezing rain and sleet. Thatโs where we expect mostly rain before changing over to freezing rain. Freezing rain potential increasing for Saturday, 2/13/2021Weโll be mostly dry and in the 40s Valentineโs Day, before another wintry mix potential arrives late Monday night into Tuesday of next week.
Yuck! Multiple rounds of winter weather expected over the next week
We wonโt see weather like that for quite some time, as weโre stuck in quite the repetitive pattern moving forward. Snow is more likely in Pocahontas, Bath and Highland Counties, with an icy mix possible in Alleghany and Rockbridge Counties. If the temperature is 33ยฐ or above up top, then we see a mix of freezing rain and sleet develop. Snow map for Wednesday night through Friday morning as of Wednesday, 2/10/2021Farther south of that, you see less snow. AdStorm threats - Thursday (2/11) to Friday (2/12)The Pattern BeyondWe get a break Friday afternoon, but there are indications of another rain/freezing rain mix coming our way Saturday and perhaps next Tuesday as well.
Calm start to the week (thankfully) before storm track returns to the Southeast
Out the door Monday morning - 2/8/2021Throughout the week, weโll have Arctic air to our north and fairly cool air to our south. High temperature forecast for Monday, 2/8/2021As high pressure moves east, however, low level moisture sneaks in at night. Low temperature forecast for Tuesday morning, 2/9/2021Once that moves out, weโre warmer Tuesday afternoon with most of us around 50-55ยฐ. AdFutureTracker - late Wednesday night and early Thursday morningThe more pronounced storm system comes in late Thursday into Thursday night. What we're tracking for Thursday, 2/11/2021Keep checking back for updates as we go throughout the week and get more refined and detailed forecast data.
Winter weather moves out with time to spare before the Super Bowl
Between 8 and 10 a.m., the precipitation will come to an end as drier air moves in from the west. The difference between this week and last week is that weโve had warmer air and a little rain preceding this event. AdWind speed and gust forecast for Sunday, 2/7/2021Weโre bone dry once the Super Bowl kicks off Sunday evening, with temperatures above freezing. If itโs farther northwest, that will pull in warmer air and keep things mainly as a cool rain later on. That would create more of a freezing rain threat.
Lynchburg hires contractor for snow removal as public works department is down 15 workers
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ Depending on where you are in Lynchburg you saw between 4 and 6 inches of snow on Sunday, marking the Hill Cityโs first major storm in about two years. Most of the cityโs primary and secondary roads were passable by the afternoon, according to Public Works Deputy Director Clay Simmons. To help plow the roads, the city partnered with a contractor because the public works department is down 15 employees due to job vacancies and COVID-19 concerns. He said city staff will drive by and plow whatever still needed to be taken care of. AdMeanwhile, VDOT reminded motorists to turn on their headlights while using windshield wipers, and it is state law to clear snow off vehicles before hitting the road.
Wintry weather benefits ski resorts across the region
While we didnโt see much snow, todayโs winter weather is good news for ski resorts in the region. Snowshoe Resort in West Virginia received several inches of fresh powder, and while staff made snow on a regular basis, they said the real thing is always better. Meanwhile, Massanutten Resort in Rockingham County will be opening this upcoming weekend. So weโd like to make enough to make sure we make it through the next warm spell,โ said Kenny Hess with the Massanutten Resort. This weather system is also benefitting Wintergreen Resort in Nelson County, where despite a lot of uncertainty, the chair lifts are now up and running.
Danville Public Schools opts for virtual learning Wednesday due to winter weather
Students in Danville will be learning from home on Wednesday, thanks to some winter weather thatโs expected to head our way. According to an announcement made Tuesday, meal distribution sites will also be closed. Administrators, office staff, maintenance, custodians and transportation staff will report to work on a 2-hour delay. Bus drivers, bus attendants and nutrition staff will not report to work. To learn more about the winter weather expected Wednesday, click here.
How VDOT plans to keep workers safe during winter months
ROANOKE, Va. โ As winter weather made its first appearance Monday, crews with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) were looking ahead to the changes in store this winter to keep staff members safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. While VDOT workers will still be working around the clock this season to make sure roads are clear, they are required to follow best practices for preventing the spread of COVID-19. VDOT officials say it may take a little longer to get certain roads clear, but staff will still be working as quickly as possible despite the changes. โSo when weโre doing winter weather, we might have some extra time, a little bit of extra time when the drivers exchange vehicles, and theyโre doing everything safely; theyโre wearing masksโ VDOT spokesperson Sandy Myers said. VDOT has been working with the Department of Health to establish these guidelines.
Powerful storm produces snow, hurricane-force gusts; wildfires rage out west
For parts of the Rockies and Intermountain West, a powerful storm system flipped that upside down. A lone bison stands as a storm packing high winds and snow sweeps through the intermountain West Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Evergreen, Colo. Estimated snow totals reported by various National Weather Service officesWe received this photo of snow near Lander, Wyoming from Keith Trouwborst. Damaging Wind GustsThe wind around this bowling ball of a storm system was powerful at times as well, even for those who werent getting snow. As the wind screamed down the mountains toward Utah, wind gusts ranged from 50-100 mph.
Potential winter weather on Tuesday
ROANOKE, Va. โ Latest model guidance has been bringing in the possibility for snow come Tuesday morning. Future Tracker 6 amWe are keeping our eye on the timing, but the latest models show this system moving into our area just before the morning commute. Future Tracker 2 pmTime to dissect this system and discuss what Your Local Weather Authority has agreed upon, so far. If clouds move in sooner rather than later, then our temperatures will be slower to drop, which means the potential for snow is less likely. Your Local Weather Authority will continue to bring you the latest updates on air and online.
VDOT prepares for icy, dangerous road conditions
ROANOKE, Va. โ Along with colder temperatures comes the chance for ice and dangerous road conditions. You can see the Virginia Department of Transportationโs lines of defense against the ice on highways across southwest Virginia. VDOT spokesperson Jen Ward says usually, crews wouldnโt brine the highways with rain in the forecast. But because thereโs a chance for sleet and ice, VDOT wants to take those precautions. โWhen you have air temperature and road temperature both impacting things, which is what weโre expecting (Friday) morning, thatโs when you get your icy roads,โ said Ward.
App now allows you to report unplowed roads to VDOT
ROANOKE, Va. โ A popular app now has a new feature that could help VDOT get snow off your road quicker. The WAZE app now allows you to report unplowed roads to VDOT. Up until now, the app just allowed you to see what roads have been plowed. The change was suggested by VDOT, according to a news release. To download the app, click here.
Walking like a penguin? Not the best technique for slippery surfaces
Industrial Biodynamicsโ slip simulator proves that. "That really enhances that slip and usually leads to a fall.โHager said marching with short, flat steps is the best technique. Walking like a penguin is commonly said to be the best technique. Industrial Biodynamics trains employees at companies across the country and the training, Hager said, is paying off. But even without training, the technique could make a difference when you head out the door Friday.