Winter storm ravages parts of Virginia

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) - Governor Bob McDonnell has issued a state of emergency as a winter storm moves through the Commonwealth, and Hampton Roads is also feeling the effects.

The storm is forecasted to dump about five to 11 inches of snow across Virginia by Wednesday night. Super Doppler 10 Meteorologist Jeremy Wheeler said portions of Isle of Wight County, Suffolk and up toward Williamsburg could see a dusting to one inch of snow. The metro could see nothing at all or just a dusting.
The risk of minor tidal flooding from the storm system remains in effect for most of the area.

Photos: Winter Storm hits Virginia

Snow began to fall late Tuesday in Virginia, hitting some areas hard and causing power outages. Bonita Harris with Dominion Virginia Power told WAVY.com 4,200 employees statewide were working on the storm effort focused on northern and western Virginia.

Crews from Hampton Roads are aiding in the restoration process. Harris said 12 bucket trucks and 262 workers from the area were sent out to weather the storm.

Traffic conditions on WAVY.com

Back in Hampton Roads, power going out was not expected to be a big concern, but Wednesday evening, a large tree knocked out power to thousands of customers in Virginia Beach.

Those traveling by air are finding their flights canceled. Norfolk International Airport said flights to Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia were canceled or delayed due to the storm.

The Virginia Department of Transportation says the heaviest accumulations occurred in the western part of the Commonwealth near the Blue Ridge Mountains, with 33" reported in Greene County. Roadways are snow-covered and slick in the Staunton and Culpeper areas.