Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 7, 1995 TAG: 9501090055
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE AND KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Welcome to winter.
Southwest Virginia's first taste of winter weather this season was relatively minor - at least compared with last year. But the freezing rain and sleet was just enough to create slick roads, fender benders, empty businesses and headaches.
State police worked several wrecks on Interstate 81 Friday afternoon, including four involving tractor-trailers north of Christiansburg.
Dispatchers were classifying most roads as ``extremely slick.'' But by 9 p.m., police reported no fatalities or serious injuries.
Traffic backups were as much to blame on ``rubberneckers'' as they were the wrecks and the weather, said Sgt. Bob Martin of the state police.
``Down in Franklin County, they said they're just covered up with wrecks,'' Martin said from his Salem office.
In Roanoke County, a school bus slid off Back Creek Road into a ditch about 4:30 p.m. The three students on the bus and the driver were not injured, but a tow truck had to be called to pull the bus out.
Most schools closed early Friday, but not without some angst.
``It's the most frustrating decision I've got to make,'' Roanoke Superintendent Wayne Harris said. ``No matter what I choose, I'll get calls from parents telling me how stupid I am.''
Harris said that, while the first priority is always the safety of the children, he can't make a decision until the weather turns bad.
``I can't choose to close schools based on last night's weather report,'' Harris said.
No deliberation was necessary for Allen Williams, a district manager for the Virginia Department of Transportation. He said crews would be out all night, not only scattering salt on the interstates and main secondary roads, but also covering spots reported by police and residents
``We're not working on a standard plan right now, because we don't know where the next spot will freeze,'' he said.
Appalachian Power Co. had crews standing by; but as of 9:30 Friday night, only one minor power outage - to 25 homes in the Falcon Ridge subdivision in Roanoke County - had been reported.
``We've got our fingers crossed - it all depends on the precipitation,'' Apco manager Toby Eaton said.
By 7:30 p.m., the National Weather Service in Roanoke had measured 0.22 inches of precipitation.
``But that's just enough to cause some serious problems,'' meteorologist Donato Cacciapaglia said.
It's the rain, which doesn't freeze until it lands, that causes the most damage.
``If you remember last year's storms, the freezing rain was the most dangerous thing, because it sticks to trees and power lines,'' Cacciapaglia said.
The low temperatures, which dipped into the low teens Thursday night, primed the roads - making the ground ``just like Velcro,'' Cacciapaglia said.
Businesses were feeling the loss of cautious consumers who opted to stay at home.
``Oh, we're not even close to what's usual for Friday night,'' Corned Beef & Co.'s Jeff Harig said.
Harig said Friday happy hour normally draws a packed house at the downtown Roanoke restaurant, but this night it was practically empty.
Vinton residents who hoped to eat in - via a home-delivered pizza - were out of luck.
``It was too treacherous out there,'' said Fabienne Nichols, Pizza Hut assistant manager. ``Our drivers were having to walk to deliveries, so we stopped that at about 5 [p.m.]''
But Nichols said the carry-out business was thriving - ``about average for a Friday,'' she said.
Valley View Cinema managed to please the few brave enough to venture out for a 7:30 movie. Ticket-taker Sandra Brown said the cinema had sold tickets to two shows, ``Streetfighter'' and ``House Guest.''
``We normally show six movies. ... After 7:30, though, we're closed,'' Brown said.
Cacciapaglia said he expected the rain to end by about 2 a.m. and temperatures to rise into the low 40s by midday.
``The Roanoke Valley is tricky because the mountains trap cold air. It takes awhile for any kind of warm front to get in there.''
As for tonight, Cacciapaglia said temperatures will drop, again. And there might even be a flurry or two.
by CNB