Low pressure tracked from the northeast Gulf coast early on December 18th reaching a position near Alma, Georgia as a 997 mb low by Friday the 18th at 5 PM EST. The storm continued moving northeast and deepened to a 986 mb low near Cape Hatteras by 10 AM December 19th. Heavy snow began around midday on the 18th and snows rapidly accumulated to warning criteria levels by late afternoon or early evening in all of the Virginia counties. All forms of travel were rendered extremely difficult for several days due to this storm and numerous vehicle accidents were reported. Final snow totals ranged from less than 6 inches in the far southeast counties to over 25 inches in parts of Alleghany, Rockbridge, Montgomery and Bath counties. This was the biggest snowstorm to affect western Virginia since the January 6-8, 1996 storm. Several stations set December single-storm snowfall records from this storm including Roanoke and Blacksburg.

Heavy Snow in BUCKINGHAM, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 16:30:00 to 19-DEC-09 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall amounts ranged from 10 inches in the far east to 14 inches in the western part of the county. Very dangerous and difficult winter travel conditions prevailed during the storm across the entire county.

Heavy Snow in CHARLOTTE, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 15:30:00 to 19-DEC-09 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall amounts ranged from less than 6 inches in the far southeast to 10 inches in the northwestern part of the county. Poor winter weather travel conditions prevailed during the storm across the entire county.

Heavy Snow in HALIFAX, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 13:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm total snowfall ranged from 6 inches in the southeast to 10 inches in the northwest. Hazardous winter travel conditions affected the entire county.

Heavy Snow in BATH, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 14:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall ranged from 22 to 27 inches across the county. Travel was extremely difficult throughout the storm.

Heavy Snow in APPOMATTOX, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 16:30:00 to 19-DEC-09 14:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall amounts ranged from 10 inches in the southeast to 14 inches in the northwest part of the county. Very hazardous travel conditions prevailed during the storm across the entire county.

Heavy Snow in AMHERST, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 16:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall amounts ranged from 14 inches in the southeast to 18 inches in the northwest part of the county.  Very hazardous travel conditions prevailed during the storm across the entire county.

Heavy Snow in ROCKBRIDGE, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 14:30:00 (EST-5)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Snowfall ranged from 18 to 22 inches across the county with a report of 28 inches at Brownsburg.  Emergency Management reported that at least 1,000 people were stranded on highways in the county at some point during the storm. Multiple accidents occurred on Interstate 81 with numerous tractor-trailers involved.

Heavy Snow in ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 14:45:00 to 19-DEC-09 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Most of the county and city of Roanoke received anywhere from 12 to 20 inches of snow. The official storm total for Roanoke Airport ASOS was 17.8 inches taken by a local TV station meteorologist. Travel became extremely treacherous within an hour or two of the storm's onset with visibility down below 1/4 mile and rapidly accumulating snows. Numerous accidents and extensive traffic jams were reported on Interstate 81. Roanoke Regional Airport was closed for much of the storm's duration.

Heavy Snow in CRAIG, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 14:30:00 to 19-DEC-09 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow amounts ranged from 12 to 17 inches. Travel was extremely treacherous throughout the storm.

Heavy Snow in BEDFORD, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 15:30:00 to 19-DEC-09 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snow amounts ranged from 10 inches in the southeast to 15 inches in the northwest. Very hazardous travel conditions prevailed during the storm across the entire county.

Heavy Snow in CAMPBELL, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 15:30:00 to 19-DEC-09 13:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Snowfall amounts ranged from 10 inches in the southeast to 16 inches in the northwest part of the county. The official amount for Lynchburg Airport ASOS was 12.5 inches taken by a local TV station meteorologist. Very hazardous travel conditions prevailed during the storm across the entire county.

Heavy Snow in PULASKI, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 13:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall ranged from about 12 to 16 inches with the highest totals in the southeast portions of the county. Travel was extremely treacherous throughout the storm, with secondary roads unplowed and numerous accidents on Interstate 81.

Heavy Snow in GILES, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 13:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall across the ranged from about 12 to 15 inches.  Travel was extremely treacherous with many secondary roads unplowed throughout the storm.

Heavy Snow in MONTGOMERY, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 13:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Most of the county received 12 to 17 inches of snow but southeast portions around Elliston and Shawsville had up to 25 inches. The official NWS storm total in Blacksburg was 14.4 inches. Travel became extremely treacherous within an hour or two of the storms onset with visibility down below 1/4 mile and rapidly accumulating snows. Numerous accidents and extensive traffic jams were reported on Interstate 81 and State Highway 460.

Heavy Snow in FLOYD, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 13:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Most of the county received 12 to 18 inches of snow but the Alum Ridge area reported 26 inches. Travel became extremely treacherous within an hour or two of the storms onset with visibility down below 1/4 mile and rapidly accumulating snows.

Heavy Snow in FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall amounts ranged from 10 inches in the far southeast to 18 inches in the far northwest portions of the county. Very hazardous travel conditions prevailed during the storm across the entire county.

Heavy Snow in HENRY, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall amounts ranged from 7 inches in the far southeast to 10 inches in the far northwest portions of the county. Very hazardous travel conditions prevailed during the storm across the entire county.

Heavy Snow in BOTETOURT, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Snow amounts were generally in the 12 to 16 inch range with parts of the northwest getting close to 20 inches. Travel was very hazardous on all roads and Interstate 81 had numerous wrecks and stranded vehicles.

Heavy Snow in PATRICK, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 11:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow ranged from 8 inches in the far southeast up to 14 inches in the northwest. Travel conditions were terrible across the entire county.

Heavy Snow in PITTSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 13:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm total snowfall across the county generally ranged from 6 inches in the south to 10 inches in the north. Hazardous winter travel conditions affected the entire county.

Heavy Snow in GRAYSON, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 12:30:00 to 19-DEC-09 06:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall ranged from 10 to 12 inches across the county and treacherous winter travel conditions prevailed throughout the storm.

Heavy Snow in SMYTH, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 12:30:00 to 19-DEC-09 06:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snow amounts ranged from 10 to 13 inches and poor winter driving conditions were found across the county.

Heavy Snow in CARROLL, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 09:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

From 12 to 14 inches fell across the county making travel extremely hazardous. A snow-related fatality occurred when 68-year old woman was thrown from her 2000 Chevrolet Blazer after driving off a snowy road.

Heavy Snow in BLAND, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 13:30:00 to 19-DEC-09 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Storm total snowfall ranged from about 12 to 14 inches with severe winter travel conditions during the storm. Interstate 77 northbound was closed due to numerous stuck tractor-trailers approaching East River Mountain Tunnel.

Heavy Snow in ALLEGHANY, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 14:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall ranged from 16 to 22 inches across the county. Travel was extremely difficult throughout the storm.

Heavy Snow in TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 05:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

From 12 to 14 inches fell across the county and made roads extremely dangerous.

Heavy Snow in WYTHE, VIRGINIA
From 18-DEC-09 13:00:00 to 19-DEC-09 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

From 12 to 16 inches fell across the county making travel extremely hazardous. Numerous vehicle wrecks were reported on Interstate 81.