HIDE High Wind Warning issued February 11 at 8:50PM EST until February 12 at 4:00AM EST by NWS Blacksburg
...HIGH WINDS EXPECTED OVERNIGHT...
.A TIGHT GRADIENT BETWEEN LOW PRESSURE OFF MID ATLANTIC COAST AND
ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE SITUATED OVER THE PLAINS WILL BRING THE
POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO THE MOUNTAINS OVERNIGHT.
...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EST SUNDAY...
* LOCATIONS...ALONG AND NEAR THE BLUE RIDGE AND HIGHER TERRAIN
OF THE ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS.
* HAZARDS...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.
* WINDS...NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH.
* TIMING...THROUGH LATE TONIGHT.
* IMPACTS...DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES.
Counties Affected: Alleghany; Ashe; Watauga
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg (East Central Virginia - Blacksburg) HIDE
HIDE Winter Weather Advisory issued February 11 at 8:48PM EST until February 12 at 6:00AM EST by NWS Blacksburg
...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW EXPECTED THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING ALONG
WITH BITTER WIND CHILLS...
.STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS BEHIND AN ARCTIC FRONT WILL RESULT IN A
PROLONGED PERIOD OF SNOW SHOWERS...HEAVY AT TIMES...ALONG THE
WESTERN RIDGES THROUGH LATE TONIGHT. THE STRONG WINDS...WHEN
COMBINED WITH FALLING TEMPERATURES...WILL ALSO RESULT IN DANGEROUS
WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES...IN ADDITION TO BLOWING AND DRIFTING
SNOW. BLIZZARD LIKE CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED AT TIMES ON THE
HIGHER RIDGES.
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST
SUNDAY...
* LOCATIONS...THE HIGH COUNTRY OF NORTH CAROLINA...MOUNTAIN
EMPIRE OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.
* HAZARD TYPES...MODERATE TO HEAVIER SNOW SHOWERS...BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW...BITTER WIND CHILLS.
* ACCUMULATIONS...ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 1 TO 3 INCHES.
STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATION 2 TO 6 INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER
AMOUNTS ON THE RIDGES AND THE ALONG WESTERN SLOPES.
* TIMING...CONTINUING OVERNIGHT...TAPERING OFF TOWARD BY DAWN
SUNDAY.
* IMPACTS...DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS DUE TO SLICK ROADS AND
BLOWING SNOW. SUB ZERO WIND CHILLS LATE TONIGHT.
* WINDS...NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH.
* TEMPERATURES...SINGLE DIGITS ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN TOPS...WITH
TEENS ELSEWHERE.
* WIND CHILLS...ZERO TO 15 BELOW ZERO.
Counties Affected: Ashe; Watauga
Issued by: NWS Blacksburg (East Central Virginia - Blacksburg) HIDE
That's Why It's Called a Floodplain! by National Committee for the New River
Latest Update: April 15, 2010
Along the New River this winter, many landowners saw and felt the results of major winter storms and extended periods of sub-freezing temperatures. In many areas, the river froze in layers of thick ice. Simultaneous events of moderating temperatures and heavy rain caused the river to rise and the ice to crack, forming huge ice floes. The rising waters carried the ice floes up onto the floodplain, the natural area for high-water levels to gravitate. You may remember seeing pictures of this phenomenon on Ray's Weather's Photo of the Day this winter.
Contrary to popular belief, flooding is a very good thing for the river to do. This winter the floodplains were doing the important work of allowing the water from snow melt, ice melt, and rain to flow up and out of the river banks, dispersing the energy of that tremendous amount of water entering the watershed. Floodplains hold large quantities of water, which slows the flow of water. They allow the sediment carried by the water to settle out on land where it is needed, instead of in the river. Native plants in the floodplain filter pollutants and chemicals from the water, improving water quality for both humans and wildlife. The water held on floodplains also allows the groundwater to recharge, keeping the water in the area to supply streams and wells.
In some cases, flood waters and ice damaged the vegetation along the river but the river banks themselves remain mostly unchanged. This is NOT the time to take advantage of cleared banks and start a lawn to the river. The shrubs, grasses, and trees on the river bank are the important riparian buffer that prevents erosion, absorbs pollutants in stormwater runoff, shades the river to keep it cool for fish, and provides food for wildlife, among other things.
Landowners should know that while the vegetation itself was sheared off or flattened, the root systems in most cases remain intact. Inaction is the best action as the root mass in the banks will send up new growth this spring for both grasses and wildflowers and the native shrubs.
Mother Nature has used this winter weather to remind us of the importance of floodplains and riparian buffers. All of the snow and ice has replenished the water tables and the flooding will provide nutrients and water for spring growth and rebirth. Just sit back and enjoy the show!
