Winter Storm Bears Down on Virginia, Slated to Bring Snow and Icy Conditions

A major winter storm is set to sweep across Virginia this weekend, bringing accumulations of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Gov. Abigail Spanberger, leading the state during her first major weather event in office, declared a state of emergency Thursday and said the ice and potential power outages will pose a serious threat.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger addresses the media ahead of a winter storm on Jan. 22, 2026. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

“We are expecting large amounts of snowfall, freezing rain, and sleet,” Spanberger said at the Virginia Emergency Operations Center in Richmond. “We also expect Virginia will experience dangerously low temperatures, power outages, and unpredictable road conditions.”

The governor’s emergency declaration will allow the National Guard to be mobilized and other resources to be staged. The weather will remain below freezing for several days after the storm, and nighttime temperatures will drop into the single digits.

The Virginia Department of Transportation posted on X Thursday that the agency had begun pre-treating roads statewide.

“If you encounter our slow-moving trucks on the road, be patient and keep your distance. Give them room to work safely as we all prepare for weekend winter weather,” VDOT posted.

Still, after the storm, it could be some time before roads are able to be cleared.

“It is possible that some localities or some subdivisions will not see a snow plow for anywhere up to 24-48 hours after the snow is concluded,” Spanberger said.

The initial storm models earlier in the week were projected to have major snow totals, nearly two feet in some regions, which have since shifted north. But the ice and rain behind the snow bands particularly concern officials, because weather patterns including ice are harder to predict than those with snow, and ice is more damaging to trees and power infrastructure.

While the storm promises treacherous conditions, it is not unprecedented. Michael Dutter with the National Weather Service’s Wakefield office said that these types of widespread winter storms that impact much of the country usually happen roughly once a decade.

Dutter said recent technological advancements helped predict that this major storm was coming much sooner than they could have forecast just 10 years ago.

“What we have with all the computing power, you know, we have probabilistic information that … we can sort of give probabilities of what area might have the best potential for a piece of snowfall,” Dutter said.

Dutter urged the public to prepare for the ice just as much, if not more, as they do for the snow.

In Richmond and surrounding areas, some community members are nervous about whether the water systems will withstand the storm, after the last major winter storm in 2025 left the city and surrounding counties without water for nearly a week.

The storm triggered a power switch failure at the city’s water treatment plant, preventing backup generators from kicking in, and the problem was compounded by staff miscommunication.

Richmond Mayor Danny Avula said in a press conference outside City Hall on Thursday that new preparations have been made at the water treatment plant ahead of this weekend’s storm, in addition to the year-long efforts to improve the facility.

Richmond Department of Utilities Director Scott Morris added that the facility’s staffing and preparations are very different from what was in place a year ago.

“We have both power feeds available to the plant. The backup generators are available to those plants; we’re coordinated,” Morris said.

Spanberger said the Richmond water crisis was part of table top training exercises she has undertaken since she was elected. Her training helped her prepare for potential threats to the commonwealth during weather events her administration will need to respond to, she said.

Virginians are asked to limit travel and stay off the roads this weekend. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is offering a list of safety and prep tips on its website.

by Shannon Heckt, Virginia Mercury

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