ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, April 9, 1996                 TAG: 9604090083
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-1  EDITION: METRO 

APRIL SNOW SHOWERS THREATEN MAY FLOWERS

LENGTH: Short :   23 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  DON PETERSEN/Staff. Tony Wirt, owner of Ground Effects 
          Lawn and Garden in Raleigh Court, moves a load of pansies to a 
          safer, warmer indoor spot at his Memorial Avenue shop. Forecasters 
          predicted 1 to 2 inches of snow would fall in the valleys overnight,
          with accumulations up to 4 inches possible in the mountains.  
          Temperatures are expected to reach the low to mid-40s today. It's 
          "somewhat unusual, but I wouldn't say it's bizarre," said Jerry 
          Stenger, research coordinator for the state climatology office at 
          the University of Virginia. The last time Roanoke got a measurable 
          April snow was April 5, 1993, when it got a dusting of 0.3 inch. 
          color.