VDOT News - Culpeper

CULPEPER — Mother Nature brought winter back to Virginia with a vengeance this morning, with heavy snow falling across the Culpeper District. The region is under a blizzard warning from the National Weather Service until 3 p.m.

With temperatures below freezing the heavy, wet snow is freezing on surfaces and roads are reported slick and icy. The Virginia Department of Transportation urges residents to postpone non-essential travel until the storm ends

The snow will be followed by high winds and temperatures plummeting into the teens overnight Saturday and early Sunday morning. VDOT urges motorists to pay attention to local weather forecasts and to use extreme caution if they must travel during the storm. The high winds may bring down trees and other debris, which could create road hazards for drivers.

VDOT crews are working across Culpeper District. VDOT snowplow operators and contract crews are treating roads with salt and sand to aid melting and improve traction. When the snow accumulates to about two inches, the plows push the snow and slush off the roadways. Crews will work around the clock to clear roads, beginning with interstates and primary highways, then shifting to secondary roads and neighborhoods once the main roads are passable. 

VDOT urges the public to avoid unnecessary travel during the storm since road conditions are likely to be hazardous, with blowing snow and icing overnight Saturday and early Sunday morning. Those who must be on the road during the storm should reduce speed, increase following distance and use VDOT’s free 511 tools to find out about road conditions along the route.

VDOT’s Customer Service Center is open 24 hours a day to answer questions and take reports of roadway hazards. Call 1-800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623) or contact us online at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov. Additional information about winter-weather preparations and response can be found at www.virginiadot.org/travel/snow.asp. Local updates are posted to Twitter.com/VaDOTCulp.

The Culpeper District includes the counties of Albemarle, Culpeper, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock.

(END)

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.