The National Weather Service in Blacksburg earlier today issued a winter storm warning for Danville and the surrounding area because of a low-pressure system that will bring sleet and freezing rain. Ice accumulations will exceed those received last weekend.
The winter storm warning will take effect at midnight.
Reggie Roakes, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, said this morning that precipitation will begin overnight as sleet and then transition to freezing rain by daybreak. Freezing rain will continue into the evening hours on Thursday, though there may be a brief lull around midday.
Danville can expect a half-inch of ice accumulation. The outskirts of the city and the surrounding counties can expect higher amounts.
These amounts of ice accumulations on trees and power lines could result in widespread downed trees and power lines and consequently widespread power outages. Last weekend, the area received a quarter-inch of ice, which resulted in thousands of customers in the Danville Utilities service territory to be without power.
Also, travel could be hazardous on Thursday and, again, Friday morning as precipitation refreezes overnight.
Public Works crews today are pretreating major thoroughfares, bridges, and overpasses with brine, which is a mixture of water and salt. The water in the brine evaporates, leaving the salt behind on the road. The salt helps prevent the precipitation from freezing onto roads and bridges.
Residential streets are not pretreated.
Public Works crews will report to work overnight and remain on duty to monitor street conditions and apply salt on major thoroughfares, bridges, and overpasses.
Residents and visitors are urged to be cautious. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on steps, sidewalks and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.
Danville Utilities crews continue their efforts to restore power to customers who lost service during last weekend’s storm. The remaining outages are scattered and damage is extensive, with broken poles and, in some cases, large spans of downed lines. Approximately 350 customers this morning remained without power.
Mutual aid crews from N.C. cities continue to assist in restoring power. These crews will remain in Danville to assist with additional outages from Thursday’s storm. Additional power outages are likely, and if widespread, restoration of service could take multiple days. Electric customers whose residence or business is without power should call Danville Utilities at (434) 773-8300 to report an outage.
When widespread outages occur, power and light line crews first are assigned to make repairs based on restoring power to the greatest number of customers in the shortest time. As lines are repaired and crews become available, they are assigned to areas with fewer outages.
Customers using medical devices must make other arrangements in the event of a power outage and temporarily go to a location or medical facility that does have power. For customers unable to make other arrangements, they should call the non-emergency number for the Emergency Communications Center. That number is (434) 799-5111, option 8. The center will notify one of the participating agencies to meet the need.
Residents and visitors should be aware that downed power lines are dangerous. Please call 9-1-1 immediately.
Residents and visitors can learn more about what to do in the event of power outages and read other winter safety tips by visiting the City’s weather page: danvilleva.gov/weather.
If anyone needs use of a warming center or shelter, then they should call the City of Danville non-emergency number, which is 434-799-5111, option 8. Arrangements will be made.
Due to the weather forecast, Danville Transit will delay the start of reservation-based service on Thursday morning until 6 a.m. Street conditions will be evaluated in the morning to determine if further delay is needed. Fixed-route operations, which normally begin at 6 a.m., also may be delayed.
Transit staff is notifying early morning reservation-based passengers and drivers of this situation. The transit system may need to restrict morning operations for service to only the Fresenius dialysis facility if the clinic elects to open.
The James F. Ingram Justice Center (Danville Courthouse) will be closed tomorrow due to the impending weather.