Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Two rounds of winter weather brought accumulating snow, hazardous roads and widespread school closures across Salem and Roanoke County on Friday, Dec. 5, and again on Monday, Dec. 8, prompting the Virginia Department of Transportation to warn drivers to avoid nonessential travel.
The first storm arrived before dawn Friday, coating roads in snow and freezing rain during the morning commute. VDOT advised travelers Thursday evening to plan ahead, warning that “snowy Friday morning commute is expected” and that low temperatures could cause rapidly changing conditions, especially on bridges, overpasses, higher elevations and shaded rural stretches.
Ahead of the storm, crews and contractors pretreated interstates and primary roads with brine. By early Friday, they were deployed in 12-hour shifts as snow and ice continued. Plow operators began clearing interstates and primary routes — those numbered 1–599 — once snow reached about two inches. VDOT urged motorists to “avoid nonessential travel and give plows room and time to work” as crews focused first on major corridors.
The weather forced Salem City Schools, Roanoke County Public Schools and several area colleges to close Friday due to the timing of the storm and concerns about deteriorating conditions once buses and families were already on the road.
A second round of wintry weather moved in early Monday, Dec. 8, quickly creating slick and icy conditions that worsened throughout the day. By mid-morning, VDOT reported crews were fully mobilized, treating roads and preparing to plow again once accumulation reached two inches. The agency warned that travel conditions would “worsen and change rapidly,” particularly during the afternoon commute, and urged residents to stay off the roads.
By 3:45 p.m., VDOT cautioned that temperatures were expected to plummet overnight, creating widespread refreeze on secondary roads, neighborhood streets and unpaved areas. While interstates and primary roads saw ongoing plowing and treatment, secondary roads remained in “frozen snow and ice” conditions and largely untouched. Drivers were warned not to expect bare pavement anywhere in the district.
As conditions deteriorated, area schools again shifted operations. Salem City Schools closed both Monday and Tuesday, citing hazardous roads, falling temperatures and the risk of rapidly worsening conditions during the morning commute. The division also announced that Tuesday’s closure was being shared early to give families time to plan for childcare.
Roanoke County Public Schools closed Monday and Tuesday as well, with school offices opening on a delay Tuesday for 260-day staff. Roanoke College also closed Monday, announcing that academic arrangements — including rescheduling exams — would be coordinated directly with students and faculty. Dining services operated under limited hours.
VDOT encouraged anyone who needed to travel to check conditions through the agency’s 511 mobile app, which provides road status updates, traffic camera feeds and weather-related information.
