ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995               TAG: 9512080071
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON 

SAME SNOW, DIFFERENT VIEWS WHERE'D ALL THAT SNOW COME FROM, ANYWAY?

The storm was expected to dump between 1 and 2 inches of snow on the Roanoke Valley, but it ran into an unexpectedly strong warm front over Western Virginia. That caused more snow to fall than was originally forecast, said Jan Jackson of the National Weather Service in Blacksburg

The result: 6-10 inches of snow.

WHO GOT HOW MUCH?

Garden (Buchanan County) - 13 inches

Roanoke Valley - 10 inches

Blacksburg - 9 inches

Botetourt County - 8 inches

Lynchburg - 6-7 inches

Rocky Mount - 4 inches

There was a band of heavy snow from Tazewell County into the Shenandoah Valley. Areas immediately outside the band got very little. Bath County and Martinsville, for example, got as little as 1 to 2 inches of snow.

BEWARE 'BLACK ICE' THIS MORNING

As temperatures drop below freezing overnight, much of the melted snow could freeze and cause roads to turn icy this morning, said Laura Bullock, spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Bullock says to particularly beware of "black ice," which is a very thin sheath of ice over a road. It's virtually invisible to drivers.

Perhaps a headline here

MORE SNOW ON THE WAY THIS WEEKEND?

By tonight, more snow could fall. The New River Valley is under a winter storm watch, which means that conditions are favorable for a snowfall of 4 inches or more. Snow also is expected in the Alleghany Highlands; the Roanoke Valley could get a mix of snow and freezing rain. The high for today will be 37 with a low of 20. Saturday calls for partly sunny skies with a high of 35 and low of 33. Sunday and Monday will be mostly cloudy with highs in the mid-30s and lows in the teens.

DRIVING TIPS

IN THE SNOW

Tips from the American Automobile Association of Virginia

Improve visibility by clearing all snow and ice from all windows, mirrors and lights.

Posted speed limits are set for dry and clear conditions only. Slow down when visibility and road conditions are affected by bad weather or traffic.

Avoid sudden starts, stops and turns. Accelerate carefully so car wheels don't spin.

If your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), do not pump the pedal or remove your foot from the brake. If your car does not have ABS, the best technique for braking under icy or snowy conditions is to apply the brakes firmly to a point just short of lockup, and then ease off the brake pedal slightly.

Anticipate potential dangers such as ice on bridges, snow-covered lane markings, stalled cars and poor visibility.

In a skid, ease off the accelerator and don't hit the brakes. Carefully steer in the direction you want the car to go and straighten the wheel as soon as the car begins to go in the desired direction.

LENGTH: Medium:   82 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  MIKE HEFFNER, DON PETERSEN & STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS. 1. 
          Chip Crawford flies - momentarily - on a Fallon Park hillside after 
          classes were called off at Virginia Western Community College. 2. In
          downtown Roanoke, most businesses were open as usual, and Sherman 
          Chisom (below) needed a snowblower to clear the sidewalk. 3. (no 
          caption). color. Graphic: Map by staff. color.