Low pressure tracked across the southern U.S. and strengthened in response to an upper low digging out of Plains and pulled significant moisture from Gulf and Atlantic into the southern Appalachian region, spreading over top of deep cold air from a strong surface ridge and cold air damming scenario. The cold layer in place was deep enough for mainly snow, with brief periods of sleet and very light freezing rain across the southern Piedmont of Virginia into North Carolina near the end of the event.
The resultant snowfall was significant across our entire forecast area (most areas over a foot, and a few locations around 2 feet), and had enough weight in some places to result in power outages, and made for extremely hazardous travel for those who had to venture out on a Sunday when most of the snow fell, or early Monday. At our primary climate locations (see table below) this was either the 2nd or 3rd largest December snowfall on record for any event (records go back to different years at each site), and was the earliest in the season that this much snow had fallen at each of those locations. At Danville this was the most snow measured in an event since February 1948.
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Storm Track
The graphic below shows a loop of the storm track overlayed with radar. It starts the evening of December 8th, and ends late morning on December 10th.
500 millibar loop - December 8th-10th, 2018
850 millibar loop December 8th-10th, 2018
Click on the other tabs for more information.
Snowfall
Widespread 12"+ and many locations with 18-24", especially from the High Country of North Carolina to Floyd County, Virginia.
 Snowfall Analysis from Storm |
 Regional Snowfall Analysis from Storm |
 Snow Cover via Satellite |
Storm Reports
Thanks to everyone who supplied their reports
The following are storm total snow reports from the winter storm beginning late on December 8th and ending early on December 10th. Not all reports submitted were included since there were many duplicates, some were quality controlled out, and others were believed to have been reported before snow had ended. Thanks to all who submitted reports. Location Amount Time/Date Provider ...North Carolina... ...Alleghany County... 2 SSE Whitehead 19.0 in 0900 AM 12/10 3 ESE Whitehead 18.6 in 0815 AM 12/10 3 E Glade Valley 18.0 in 0826 AM 12/10 ...Ashe County... 3 SE Fleetwood 25.0 in 1030 AM 12/10 1 SW Baldwin 23.0 in 0951 AM 12/10 1 N Fleetwood 21.0 in 0844 AM 12/10 1 NE Idlewild 20.0 in 0700 PM 12/09 2 NE Deep Gap 18.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 2 SW Ashland 16.0 in 0930 AM 12/10 COCORAHS ...Caswell County... Yanceyville 4 SE 15.4 in 0700 AM 12/10 COOP ...Rockingham County... 2 W Eden 17.5 in 0951 AM 12/10 ...Stokes County... 3 ESE Woodville 16.1 in 0732 PM 12/09 3 ESE Woodville 16.0 in 0732 PM 12/09 Danbury 14.8 in 0700 AM 12/10 COOP Pinnacle 13.0 in 0915 PM 12/09 ...Surry County... 4 NNE Roaring Gap 17.5 in 0100 PM 12/10 Pilot Mountain 13.5 in 0933 PM 12/09 ...Watauga County... Aho 26.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 2 WSW Boone 21.5 in 0252 PM 12/10 2 SSE Rutherwood 19.0 in 0900 AM 12/10 2 SW Rutherwood 19.0 in 0935 AM 12/10 1 SE Rutherwood 18.5 in 0900 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 3 WSW Blowing Rock 16.7 in 1030 AM 12/10 2 W Boone 16.5 in 1025 AM 12/10 ...Wilkes County... North Wilkesboro 17.8 in 0700 AM 12/10 COOP North Wilkesboro 16.0 in 0745 PM 12/09 ...Yadkin County... Boonville 14.5 in 0819 PM 12/09 ...Virginia... ...Alleghany County... 3 W Hollins 15.0 in 0720 PM 12/09 ...Amherst County... Pedlar Dam 15.4 in 0700 AM 12/10 COOP 3 NNW Amherst 13.5 in 1030 PM 12/09 1 SW Amherst 13.5 in 0900 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 1 SW Amherst 13.3 in 0832 PM 12/09 3 ESE Elon 11.5 in 0800 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 1 ENE Madison Heights 11.3 in 0954 PM 12/09 3 ESE Amherst 11.0 in 0921 AM 12/10 ...Appomattox County... Appomattox 13.4 in 0854 AM 12/10 COOP Bent Creek 13.0 in 0818 PM 12/09 1 NE Concord 12.0 in 0843 PM 12/09 4 E Appomattox 11.5 in 1115 PM 12/09 3 WNW Evergreen 11.0 in 0759 PM 12/09 ...Bath County... Millboro 14.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS Hot Springs 11.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COOP 1 W Warm Springs 8.8 in 0751 PM 12/09 ...Bedford County... 2 WSW Chamblissburg 16.3 in 0900 AM 12/10 3 SSE Goodview 15.8 in 0800 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 4 SW Boonsboro 15.7 in 0800 AM 12/10 Thaxton 15.5 in 0910 PM 12/09 3 NW Forest 15.4 in 0928 AM 12/10 Stewartsville 15.0 in 0910 PM 12/09 Holcomb Rock 14.2 in 0700 AM 12/10 COOP 2 WNW Big Island 14.2 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 2 SW Boonsboro 13.5 in 0805 PM 12/09 3 SW Moneta 12.2 in 0800 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 1 NE Forest 12.1 in 0643 PM 12/09 4 NNW Chamblissburg 12.0 in 0610 AM 12/10 COCORAHS Moneta 12.0 in 0849 AM 12/10 ...Bland County... Bland 17.0 in 0920 PM 12/09 3 SW Long Spur 14.2 in 1150 PM 12/09 ...Botetourt County... 2 E Lithia 17.5 in 0924 AM 12/10 Fincastle 14.0 in 1000 PM 12/09 1 NNW Fincastle 14.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS Laymantown 12.5 in 0728 PM 12/09 ...Buckingham County... Buckingham 11.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COOP 3 NNE Tower Hill 10.3 in 0949 PM 12/09 7 SE Dillwyn 9.8 in 0909 AM 12/10 ...Campbell County... Rustburg 15.0 in 0829 PM 12/09 3 WNW Aspen 14.5 in 0800 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 1 NNE Altavista 13.5 in 1014 PM 12/09 4 SSW Concord 13.0 in 0655 PM 12/09 Gladys 13.0 in 0730 PM 12/09 Brookneal 12.1 in 0830 AM 12/10 COOP ...Carroll County... 1 NNE Galax Hillsville Airpo 22.0 in 0900 AM 12/10 3 NE Galax City 20.5 in 0815 PM 12/09 3 S Gladesboro 20.0 in 0645 PM 12/09 1 W Pipers Gap 18.5 in 0712 PM 12/09 1 SSE Hillsville 18.0 in 1104 AM 12/10 Fries 17.5 in 0730 PM 12/09 Fancy Gap 16.0 in 0750 PM 12/09 2 SSE Byllesby 15.5 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS ...Charlotte County... Keysville 2 S 15.5 in 0800 AM 12/10 COOP Drakes Branch 15.1 in 0720 PM 12/09 3 N Wylliesburg 14.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS ...City of Buena Vista County... 1 ESE Buena Vista City 15.0 in 0858 PM 12/09 ...City of Covington County... Covington Filter Plant 15.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COOP ...City of Galax County... Galax Water Plant 15.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COOP ...City of Lexington County... 5 NW Buena Vista City 14.8 in 0700 AM 12/10 COOP ...City of Lynchburg County... 3 ENE Forest 12.4 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 1 WSW Lynchburg City 11.7 in 0800 AM 12/10 Broadcast Media 2 E Forest 11.0 in 0958 PM 12/09 ...City of Martinsville County... Martinsville Filter Plant 15.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COOP ...City of Roanoke County... 2 S Roanoke Airport 15.2 in 0800 AM 12/10 Broadcast Media ...City of Salem County... 1 WSW Salem City 14.8 in 1105 PM 12/09 2 NNE Salem City 11.0 in 0815 PM 12/09 ...Craig County... 3 NE Abbott 14.5 in 0655 PM 12/09 ...Floyd County... 5 ENE Alum Ridge 18.4 in 0720 AM 12/10 Floyd 17.0 in 0830 PM 12/09 1 SW Terrys Fork 16.8 in 0926 AM 12/10 2 S Pilot 14.8 in 0912 PM 12/09 4 ENE Alum Ridge 14.3 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS ...Franklin County... Snow Creek 18.5 in 0700 PM 12/09 2 WNW Rocky Mount 18.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 2 SE Rocky Mount 16.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 3 W Sydnorsville 14.1 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS Ferrum 2.7 SW 13.6 in 0600 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 6 N Penhook 13.0 in 0716 PM 12/09 2 NE Burnt Chimney 12.5 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS ...Giles County... 1 NE Pearisburg 14.3 in 0736 PM 12/09 3 S Mountain Lake 14.0 in 0738 PM 12/09 3 SW Eggleston 14.0 in 0900 AM 12/10 2 SE Mountain Lake 13.2 in 0930 PM 12/09 1 NNE Pembroke 12.7 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS Newport 12.0 in 0625 PM 12/09 ...Grayson County... Independence 22.8 in 1000 PM 12/09 3 S Comers Rock 17.0 in 0830 PM 12/09 ...Halifax County... South Boston 17.0 in 0950 PM 12/09 ...Henry County... Bassett 16.8 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS ...Montgomery County... 4 WSW Pilot 15.5 in 0920 AM 12/10 Pilot 15.3 in 0715 PM 12/09 1 WNW Prices Fork 14.5 in 0800 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 1 NE Merrimac 13.7 in 0700 AM 12/10 Official NWS Obs 2 NE Blacksburg 13.0 in 0703 PM 12/09 1 ENE Blacksburg 13.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 1 ESE Christiansburg 12.2 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS Blacksburg 0.4 N 12.2 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS ...Patrick County... 3 ESE Buffalo Ridge 17.0 in 0626 PM 12/09 4 NW Sanville 16.0 in 0620 PM 12/09 4 W Sanville 16.0 in 0930 PM 12/09 3 WNW Charity 13.4 in 0800 AM 12/10 COCORAHS ...Pittsylvania County... Chatham 17.4 in 0700 AM 12/10 COOP 6 SSE Swansonville 17.0 in 0800 PM 12/09 5 NE Cascade 15.5 in 1030 PM 12/09 4 NNW Pittsville 15.5 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 1 SE Chatham 15.0 in 1045 AM 12/10 1 ESE Hurt 12.0 in 1000 AM 12/10 3 NNW Ringgold 11.4 in 0130 PM 12/10 ...Pulaski County... Fairlawn 14.1 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 2 ESE Pulaski 13.5 in 0621 PM 12/09 2 NW Copper Valley 13.5 in 0900 PM 12/09 Graysontown 13.3 in 0800 PM 12/09 Pulaski 2 E 13.0 in 0845 AM 12/10 COOP ...Roanoke County... Bent Mountain 15.0 in 0656 AM 12/10 3 ESE Cave Spring 14.3 in 0853 PM 12/09 2 W Poages Mill 14.0 in 0711 PM 12/09 Cave Spring 14.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 3 N Salem City 13.2 in 0808 PM 12/09 2 NE Vinton 13.0 in 0723 PM 12/09 1 S Cave Spring 13.0 in 0856 AM 12/10 2 E Vinton 12.5 in 0700 PM 12/09 1 W Cave Spring 12.5 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 1 NW Cave Spring 12.0 in 0830 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 3 N Bradshaw 12.0 in 0856 AM 12/10 ...Rockbridge County... 4 WSW Buena Vista City 20.0 in 1011 AM 12/10 4 SW Collierstown 18.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 5 NW Glasgow 17.4 in 1030 PM 12/09 Glasgow 1 SE 16.7 in 0700 AM 12/10 COOP 7 SSW Rockbridge Baths 16.0 in 0932 PM 12/09 6 N Collierstown 16.0 in 0700 AM 12/10 COCORAHS 3 ENE Collierstown 15.0 in 0847 PM 12/09 4 SW Rockbridge Baths 15.0 in 0910 PM 12/09 5 NW Buena Vista City 14.0 in 0712 PM 12/09 3 NNE Rockbridge Baths 13.5 in 0640 PM 12/09 Glasgow 13.0 in 0909 AM 12/10 ...Tazewell County... Richlands 15.0 in 0954 PM 12/09 Burkes Garden 15.0 in 0615 AM 12/10 COOP Gratton 13.5 in 0932 PM 12/09 2 WNW Bluefield 13.5 in 1000 PM 12/09 ...Wythe County... 2 WSW Wytheville 16.5 in 0830 AM 12/10 1 NNW Wytheville 16.0 in 1007 PM 12/09 ...West Virginia... ...Greenbrier County... 2 E Lawn 18.5 in 0800 PM 12/09 Alderson 18.0 in 0800 PM 12/09 White Sulphur Springs 18.0 in 0900 PM 12/09 Lewisburg 17.5 in 1028 AM 12/10 Organ Cave 17.0 in 0800 PM 12/09 3 S Maxwelton 15.0 in 0815 PM 12/09 3 SSW Neola 13.5 in 0743 PM 12/09 Rainelle 12.0 in 0700 PM 12/09 Renick 11.0 in 0800 PM 12/09 Neola 9.0 in 0800 PM 12/09 ...Mercer County... Oakvale 18.0 in 0953 PM 12/09 Lerona 17.0 in 1047 AM 12/10 Bluewell 15.0 in 1032 AM 12/10 1 NNW Athens 14.5 in 0637 PM 12/09 2 NNE Montcalm 14.0 in 1045 PM 12/09 Bramwell 13.0 in 0920 PM 12/09 Bluefield 12.2 in 0700 AM 12/10 COOP ...Monroe County... 2 SSE Sweet Springs 20.0 in 1034 AM 12/10 3 E Wayside 16.5 in 1000 PM 12/09 Alderson 16.0 in 0800 AM 12/10 COOP 3 S Red Sulphur Spring 15.0 in 0400 AM 12/10 Lindside 12.0 in 0713 PM 12/09 ...Summers County... 3 E Ellison 20.0 in 1051 AM 12/10 1 ENE Hinton 18.0 in 0651 PM 12/09 3 ESE Hinton 18.0 in 0811 PM 12/09 Bluestone Lake 17.0 in 0730 AM 12/10 COOP
Photos:
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| NWS Blacksburg, VA, Dec 10th (Vance J.) |
Fancy Gap, VA Dec 9th (Beavers) |
Galax, VA Dec 9th (Kathleen H) |
Roanoke, VA Dec 9th (Roanoke Times.) |
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| East Bend, NC Dec 9th (D. Rudy R.) |
Ennice, NC Dec 9th (W Bottomley) |
Botetourt County, VA Dec 9th (PJGator) |
Meadows of Dan, VA Dec 10th (Beth F.) |
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