A large winter storm has arrived in Virginia, dropping snow across western parts of the state. In Hampton Roads, residents are eagerly waiting for the arrival of up to a foot of winter precipitation.
Jeff Orrock, meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service in Wakefield, said weather models are “continuing to bullseye” Hampton Roads for the highest snow totals in the region. Meteorologists at the weather service said there is still a very good chance of 8 to 10 inches across the Tidewater region.
“That’s really high, even at this stage of the game,” Orrock said Wednesday morning. “You’re talking about two-thirds of the models having 8 inches of snow or more in Norfolk. That’s a really strong signal there.”
The severity is the result of a winter storm system moving across the Midwest “linking up” with a nor’easter developing off the coast of Charleston, Orrock said. A second wave of snow is currently expected Thursday, pushing the snow’s end time to Thursday afternoon for Hampton Roads, or at about noon to 2 p.m.
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Warming centers
Warming centers in Portsmouth will open between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to the city. Individuals who need to stay out of the cold may go to the front parking lot of Department of Social Services at 1701 High St. to be transported to the warming centers. Centers will be open until 7 a.m. Friday.
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Closings, cancellations and delays in Hampton Roads due to winter storm
Flights grounded
Airlines began cancelling flights to and from the Norfolk International Airport Wednesday morning, with American Airlines being the most aggressive, according to a spokesperson for the airport. American canceled 16 arrivals and eight departures as of 10 a.m.
The first canceled departure from ORF is an American flight to New York originally scheduled at 2:59 p.m., followed by a United Airlines flight to Washington, D.C., originally scheduled at 3:29 p.m. The first canceled arrival to ORF is a United flight from D.C. originally scheduled for 1:44 p.m.
Breeze and Spirit each canceled one round-trip flight. The airport has advised all passengers to check with their airlines about any changes to their flights.
