Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 31, 1995 TAG: 9501310138
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The snow came from the third weather system to pass through the region since late last week. ``The whole weekend of storms, we got probably close to a foot of snow here,'' said meteorologist Michael Emlaw at the National Weather Service's new office in Blacksburg. ``But it gets packed down.''
Authorities reported no major power outages and only routine fender-benders, aside from a moving company van that slid off southbound Interstate 81 near Ironto, leaving one lane closed for the day.
Resident highway engineer Dan Brugh cautioned drivers to go slow on rural secondary roads this morning, as thawed byways may have frozen overnight. His Christiansburg-based state Department of Transportation crews have been out all weekend, alternately clearing primary and secondary roads during 12-hour shifts.
The snow ``kept coming and going,'' Brugh said. ``We had to do the same thing over and over.''
Emlaw and his fellow weather wizards, who measured 9 inches at Virginia Tech's Corporate Research Center at 1 p.m., tracked Monday's snow on a Floyd County-based radar system. It showed a storm with localized bursts, heavier in Blacksburg than in Christiansburg, for instance.
In Pulaski County, the aptly named Snowville seemed to be the hardest-hit area, said Sheriff Ralph Dobbins. Callers reported up to 5 inches there. In Floyd, things were quiet at the Rescue Squad. ``Most people in Floyd stay in when it gets like this,'' said Capt. Ford Wirt. ``They're used to it.''
Mountainous Giles County, as usual, got more than its share. Mountain Lake Resort, perched high atop Salt Pond Mountain, recorded 11 inches through the weekend and Monday.
Lafon, a Hoechst-Celanese retiree, could say he told you so.
According to local residents, Lafon, a local weather prognosticator, previously announced a winter storm would occur during the weekend of Jan. 28-29.
``I told people we'd get 6 to 7 inches several months ago,'' Lafon said. How did he know? ``I don't like to tell my secrets,'' he laughed.
Lafon has been predicting the weather for more than 25 years. He started trying to second-guess nature while he worked at the Hoechst-Celanese plant near Narrows, becoming a noted amateur forecaster whose forecasts sometimes appeared in the plant newspaper.
The Newport weather forecaster sees more bad weather coming this winter. Going out on a limb, he predicts another snowfall Feb. 18 totalling at least 4 inches. Remember, you read it here first.
Though all New River Valley public school systems closed Monday, the weather didn't stop teen-agers and children in Christiansburg from going to school - to sled. Christiansburg Elementary School was the place to be.
``It's the biggest hill around here,'' said 15-year-old Amy Ethridge.
Ethridge enjoyed the afternoon with her boyfriend, John Broce, and her sisters, 9-year-old Jennifer and 11-year-old Stephanie.
They zoomed down the precipitous hill in front of Christiansburg Elementary and splattered each other with huge, wet snowballs.
``We're glad there's no school today,'' said Stephanie, a Christiansburg Middle School student.
Meanwhile, Dustin Wade, a 5-year-old kindergartner at Christiansburg Primary School, wrapped his arms around his father's neck and hung on as the two sped downhill on their sled.
``This is good exercise,'' said Dustin's dad, Gary Wade.
Wade had time for the afternoon frolic with his son because he works the midnight shift at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant.
Dustin, who obviously hasn't learned the ropes yet, said he hopes school isn't closed tomorrow. He's anxious to go back to class.
While the kids were outdoors, many adults seemed to stay indoors. The New River Valley Mall, for instance, didn't attract too many shoppers, despite winter clearance sales.
But it did draw walkers, who paced the mall's perimeter at a fast clip.
``You go walk in the mall 'cause you can't walk outside,'' said Roxie Novak of Christiansburg, who, like many of the walkers, was wearing sneakers, not boots.
Compiled by Staff Writer Brian Kelley from reports by staff writers Donna Alvis-Banks, Melissa DeVaughn, Robert Freis, Brian Kelley, Madelyn Rosenberg and B. Lynn Williams.
by CNB