Area sees second winter storm

Published 8:15 am Thursday, January 20, 2022

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For the second time this year, snow, sleet and freezing rain left its mark across the Commonwealth on Sunday, Jan. 16

As of Monday, Jan. 17, the National Weather Service in Wakefield was reporting just over 1 inch for Lunenburg County.

Sunday’s winter weather caused many travel issues for drivers and emergency crews responding to crashes.

According to the Virginia State Police (VSP), troopers responded to 482 traffic crashes and 486 disabled vehicles from 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 16 through 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16.

“The majority of those crashes have involved only damage to vehicles,” said VSP Public Relations Coordinator Shelby Crouch.

Of those reported crashes, according to the VSP Appomattox Division, which covers Lunenburg, troopers responded to 58 disabled vehicles and 49 traffic crashes in the district.

Starting at around 7 p.m. on Sunday Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) reported 449 members without power. Just three hours later, around 10 p.m. SEC was reporting less than 100 members remained without power.

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews worked around the clock to clear roads following the winter storm and continued during the day on Monday, Jan. 17.

“VDOT crews have been plowing roads all day and will continue until all roads are passable,” said VDOT Communications Manager Len Stevens. “Crews are first treating primary roads before moving on to secondary roads. Keep in mind, due to the colder temperatures we are seeing now, this storm is different from the storm we faced on Jan. 3, and it may take crews more time and effort to clear the roads this time around.”