A series of deep upper low pressure systems and associated intense surface lows tracked across the region during the last two weeks of December bringing winter weather and strong to high winds to southwest Virginia, southeast West Virginia, the adjacent Allegheny Highlands of Virginia, and northwest North Carolina.  Several surface lows tracked from the week before Christmas through the final days of the year in a similar path from the Tennessee Valley across southwest Virginia and/or southeast West Virginia, then toward the mid-Atlantic region.  As the surface low pressure areas intensified off the mid-Atlantic coast, very strong, gusty northwest winds developed across the region, especially across southwest Virginia and northwest North Carolina.  Sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts in excess of 50 mph were common from the evening of the 26th through the early morning hours of the 27th.  The strong winds blew down a number of trees, many onto power lines and some onto roads, resulting in scattered power outages throughout the region.  Here are some sample wind gusts measured from various weather stations across southwest Virginia and the date/time that they occurred.  Note, counties not listed either do not have reporting stations or had wind gusts reported or measured of less than 35 mph.
Bedford County (4SSE Buchanan):  12/27/12, 512 am EST, 35 mph,
Botetourt County (6W Fincastle):  12/27/12, 1215 am EST, 36 mph,
Carroll County (HLX AWOS):  12/26/12, 1155 pm EST, 44 mph,
Franklin County (3SW Moneta):  12/27/12, 813 am EST, 36 mph,
Montgomery County (BCB AWOS):  12/27/12, 235 am EST, 48 mph,
Pulaski County (PSK AWOS):  12/27/12, 1235 am EST, 41 mph,
Roanoke City (ROA ASOS):  12/27/12,  454 am EST, 48 mph,
Roanoke County (VDOT ROA):  12/27/12, 642 am EST, 36 mph,
Rockbridge County (6SSE Millboro):  12/27/12, 459 am EST, 41 mph,
Smyth County (Marion/Wytheville AWOS):  12/27/12, 155 am EST, 45 mph,
Wythe County (VDOT 2E Wytheville):  12/27/12, 326 am EST, 45 mph.

High Wind in TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA
From 26-DEC-12 08:45:00 to 26-DEC-12 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Trees were blown down in the Thompson Valley Area at 0845 EST on the 26th, and several large tree limbs were blown down near Tazewell at 1130 EST on the 26th.

High Wind in GRAYSON, VIRGINIA
From 27-DEC-12 03:00:00 to 27-DEC-12 07:30:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

The Virginia State Park Service reported that numerous trees and large tree limbs were down throughout the Grayson Highlands State Park and along adjacent areas of U.S. Highway 58.  The damage occurred over a period of several hours.

High Wind in CARROLL, VIRGINIA
From 26-DEC-12 07:10:00 to 27-DEC-12 07:30:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Carroll County Sheriff's Office reported that several trees were down on Silverleaf Road a couple of miles off U.S. Highway 58.

High Wind in GILES, VIRGINIA
From 27-DEC-12 06:00:00 to 27-DEC-12 07:30:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Giles County 911 Center reported that a tree was down across Virginia Highway 42 three miles southwest of Huffman and another tree was down along U.S. Highway 460 between Narrows and Rich Creek.  Another tree was down at Wolf Creek and Buckhorn Road.

High Wind in PATRICK, VIRGINIA
From 26-DEC-12 10:30:00 to 26-DEC-12 10:30:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public reported that some siding was damaged and several shingles were blown off a roof on a home just northeast of Sulphur Springs.

High Wind in FLOYD, VIRGINIA
From 26-DEC-12 04:32:00 to 27-DEC-12 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Floyd County 911 Center reported that numerous large trees were down across the county, including one on U.S. Highway 221 just north of the city of Floyd and another just south of the city of Floyd, and one on Christiansburg Pike between Christiansburg and Floyd.  Appalachian Electric Power reported that 3381 customers were without power for several hours as a result of downed power lines across the county.

High Wind in SMYTH, VIRGINIA
From 27-DEC-12 03:55:00 to 27-DEC-12 07:30:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A SkyWarn spotter reported that several trees were down around Broadford.

High Wind in BEDFORD, VIRGINIA
From 27-DEC-12 07:15:00 to 27-DEC-12 07:15:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A SkyWarn spotter reported that several four to five inch-diameter tree limbs were blown down within the City of Bedford.

Strong Wind in ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
From 27-DEC-12 07:00:00 to 27-DEC-12 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 42.00 MG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public reported that a tree was blown down on a house causing partial roof damage to the structure.

High Wind in TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA
From 27-DEC-12 00:16:00 to 27-DEC-12 00:16:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A wind gust of 66 MPH was measured from a handheld anemometer one mile northwest of Richlands.