Winter storm to impact students’ semester return

With forecasted winter storms coinciding with the return of students to college campuses around the Commonwealth this weekend, the Virginia Department of Transportation is reminding students and their families to plan move-in travel around winter weather.

The current forecast indicates a significant winter storm with snow starting in Virginia Saturday evening, and an all-day snow event Sunday. Accumulating snow of more than 6 inches will cause dangerous travel conditions Sunday. Those with travel plans are encouraged to monitor forecasts for their entire route and exercise sound judgment before starting their trip. Traveling on Sunday is not advised.

Motorists are urged to return early, prior to the storm, or delay travel until roadways are safe after the storm.

Key reminders:

Plan travel around the storm
If snow or ice is on the road, conditions are hazardous
If you must travel:
Review forecasts along the entire route
Check road conditions along the travel route at 511Virginia.org
Allow plenty of time to reach your destination
Keep a safe distance of at least five seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you
Brake very lightly to keep your tires from slipping on the pavement
Do not pass snowplows
Keep an emergency winter weather kit in your vehicle which includes food, water, first aid materials, tools, and blankets in the event of a breakdown or stoppage.

For more information on winter weather travel, visit virginiadot.org/travel/snow.asp.

Resources:

To report hazardous road conditions or talk to a customer service representative, call VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) or visit online at my.vdot.virginia.gov.

VDOT recently partnered with Waze to add a new feature to the navigation software app that allows users to report, in real-time during winter weather, when a road has not been plowed. It will also inform travelers when they are approaching a road that has been identified by other drivers as unplowed.

Traffic information is also available on Twitter @511statewideVA; for general VDOT information, follow @VaDOT.