UPDATE - Friday, January 28 - 9:30 a.m.
This morning the National Weather Service downgraded the initial Winter Storm Watch to a Winter Storm Advisory for the City of Suffolk related to the winter weather impacting our area this weekend. The advisory is in effect from 10 p.m. tonight until 4 p.m., Saturday, January 29th. Snow is still expected with accumulations up to two inches and winds gusting as high as 35 miles per hour. This could result in slippery road conditions. Additionally, minor tidal flooding is expected Saturday morning which could impact the Kimberly Bridge area on North Main Street.
The City’s Office of Emergency Management and City staff are continuing to monitor weather forecasts due to the variability of the snow forecast and potential freezing resulting from temperatures at or below freezing with possible single digit wind chills.
As previously noted, the Suffolk Department of Public Works will have a lead 8 hour shift for crews from 4 p.m. this afternoon until midnight. At midnight, crews will begin 24 hour a day, 12 hour shifts to address any plowing or treatment of roadways. These operations will continue through the duration of this winter event.
Suffolk Fire & Rescue and Suffolk Police personnel are prepared as well for service calls resulting from the weather in addition to regular calls.
Motorists are asked to stay off the roads and avoid all nonessential travel during and after the snowfall passes. Bridges and overpasses can be particularly troublesome as they are likely to freeze before roads. If you do have to travel, stay back and avoid passing snow plows as snow or abrasives can come from the plow while it is in operation. Also drivers should not get directly in front of a snow plow as the heavy machinery is not able to stop quickly.
An interactive map of the City’s priority routes for public paved roadways within the City can be viewed online: www.suffolkva.us/winterprep. Please note that removal timeframes and priority are subject to change with weather conditions.
Updates will be provided if there are any changes in operating status for City facilities on Saturday or Sunday.
To report roadway issues, citizens can contact Public Works at 757-514-7600, 24/7 during and after the storm until normal operations resume.
For afterhours requests for emergency Public Utilities Services, call 757-514-7000 (broken water pipes, etc.)