An intense upper low was rotating through the mid-Atlantic region during the period.  An equally intense surface low and occluded front was located across the eastern Ohio valley.  As the low pressure area approached the region from the west early on the 20th, very strong, gusty southeast winds developed across the higher elevations of southwest Virginia and northwest North Carolina.  This resulted in some minor tree damage in Tazewell county Virginia.  As the system moved to the north and east of the region, very strong, gusty northwest winds developed and persisted for an extended period across the western part of the Blacksburg forecast area from late on the afternoon of the 21st through much of the 22nd.  However, the strongest winds, with gusts of 50 to 65 mph in southwest Virginia and northwest North Carolina, occurred during the late evening hours of the 21st and the early morning hours of the 22nd.  Winds gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common.  The strong upslope winds also resulted in a persistent snowfall across the upslope areas of the Alleghanys through southwest West Virginia and the mountains of northwest North Carolina.
Below is a sample of some of the highest wind gusts recorded from southwest Virginia counties.  If no data is given, the county either did not have winds exceeding 35 mph or did not have a wind reporting station.
Bath county (HSP AWOS, 12/21/12, 955 pm EST) - 59 mph
Bedford county (4SSE Buchanan, 12/22/12, 752 am EST) - 41 mph,
Botetourt county (6W Fincastle, 12,21,12, 1035 pm EST) - 39 mph,
Carroll county (Galax AWOS, 12/22,12, 135 am EST) - 43 mph,
Franklin county (3SSW Stewartsville, 12/22/12, 325 am EST) - 39 mph,
Henry county (MTV AWOS, 12/22/12, 335 am EST) - 35 mph,
Montgomery county (BCB AWOS, 12/22/12, 455 am EST) - 54 mph,
Pittsylvania county (3E Mountain Valley, 12/22/12, 312 am EST) - 35 mph,
Pulaski county (PSK AWOS, 12/22/12, 255 am EST) - 47 mph,
Radford city (2SSE Walton, 12/21/12, 1039 pm EST) - 38 mph,
Roanoke city (ROA ASOS, 12/21/12, 1054 pm EST) - 47 mph
Roanoke county (Bent Mountain, 12/21/12, 1117 pm EST) - 49 mph,
Rockbridge county (6SSE Millboro, 12/22/12, 514 am EST) - 40 mph,
Smyth county (MKJ AWOS, 12/21/12, 1035 pm EST) - 58 mph,
Wythe county (2E Wytheville, 12/21/12, 1047 pm EST) - 46 mph.

High Wind in SMYTH, VIRGINIA
From 21-DEC-12 22:35:00 to 21-DEC-12 22:35:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

The Marion-Wytheville AWOS (MKJ) recorded a wind gust of 58 mph.

High Wind in BLAND, VIRGINIA
From 21-DEC-12 17:00:00 to 21-DEC-12 22:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Bland County Sheriff's Office reported that several trees were blown down throughout the county during the day.

High Wind in GILES, VIRGINIA
From 21-DEC-12 14:24:00 to 21-DEC-12 15:21:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Giles County 911 Center reported that one tree was down on Johnson Aveune just north-northwest of Pembroke, another tree was down on Big Stony Creek Road in Pembroke, and a large branch was broken and suspended over Stateline Road in Narrows.

Strong Wind in MONTGOMERY, VIRGINIA
From 21-DEC-12 22:35:00 to 22-DEC-12 04:55:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 47.00 MG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The City of Radford 911 Center, essentially located within the confines of Montgomery county, reported that a tree was down on a carport and across power lines.  The Blacksburg AWOS recorded a gust of 54 mph at 455 am EST and a mesonet station in the City of Radford recorded a maximum gust of 38 mph at 1039 pm EST on the 21st.

High Wind in GRAYSON, VIRGINIA
From 21-DEC-12 18:30:00 to 21-DEC-12 18:30:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

The Virginia State Forest Service reported a wind gust of 65 mph within the Grayson Highlands State Park or just west-southwest of Mill Creek.

High Wind in CRAIG, VIRGINIA
From 21-DEC-12 22:00:00 to 21-DEC-12 22:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Craig County 911 Center reported that a few trees were down on Johns Creek Road about three miles southwest of Craig Springs.

High Wind in ALLEGHANY, VIRGINIA
From 21-DEC-12 23:30:00 to 21-DEC-12 23:30:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A SkyWarn spotter reported that a few trees were down on Potts Creek Road just northeast of Potts Creek.

High Wind in BATH, VIRGINIA
From 21-DEC-12 21:55:00 to 21-DEC-12 21:55:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

A wind gust of 59 mph was recorded by the Hot Springs (HSP) AWOS at Ingalls Field.

High Wind in ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
From 22-DEC-12 12:19:00 to 22-DEC-12 12:19:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The City of Roanoke 911 Center reported that cable lines were blown down on Duke Drive.  Winds had gusted over 40 mph several times at the Roanoke Airport during the overnight on the 21st through mid-day hours on the 22nd.

High Wind in BOTETOURT, VIRGINIA
From 21-DEC-12 21:00:00 to 21-DEC-12 21:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.75K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A SkyWarn spotter reported that one large tree and several large branches were down just north of Lone Star.

High Wind in PATRICK, VIRGINIA
From 21-DEC-12 04:38:00 to 21-DEC-12 04:38:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Patrick County 911 Center reported that numerous trees were down throughout the county.  A number of power outages were reported.

High Wind in FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA
From 22-DEC-12 04:00:00 to 22-DEC-12 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Franklin County 911 Center reported that several trees and power lines were down around Hardy.  Later, some trees were also blown down in the Ferrum area.  Finally, at 11 am EST on the 22nd, another tree was blown down near Rocky Mount.

High Wind in BEDFORD, VIRGINIA
From 22-DEC-12 07:00:00 to 22-DEC-12 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A SkyWarn spotter reported that an awning at a gas station in Moneta was brought down by high winds.

High Wind in TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA
From 20-DEC-12 07:30:00 to 20-DEC-12 12:50:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A SkyWarn spotter reported that some large tree limbs were down at the intersection of Dogwood Road and Steeles Lane just south-southwest of Benbolt.  This event occurred around 730 am EST.  At 1250 pm EST, more tree limbs were blown down in the same area at the intersection of Painter Street and Dogwood Road.