UPDATE
The City of Suffolk and surrounding areas remain under a Winter Storm Advisory until 4 p.m. this afternoon. The advisory calls for snow covered and icy roadways with additional total snow accumulations. Winds could gust up to 35 miles per hour. Motorists are being advised of slippery road conditions and are asked to slow down and use caution while traveling.
The National Weather Service has also issued a Coastal Flood Advisory which is in effect until 10 a.m. this morning. One to two feet of inundation above ground level is expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. Currently, the two outside lanes at the Kimberly Bridge on North Main Street are closed due to tidal flooding.
Suffolk Public Works crews shifted to 24 hour a day, 12 hour shifts at midnight last night. These operations will continue until conditions subside. As of this morning, staff have used approximately 403 tons of abrasives on primary and most significant collector roadways. At this time, staff are focused on applying abrasives while plowing in some situations as needed. Primary roads are reported as mostly passable at this point with some of the focus beginning to shift to major secondary roads. Staff are still running passes on primary roads due to windblown snow.
Due to projections for temperatures to remain at or below freezing along with below freezing wind chills, roadways can still have icy conditions. Motorists as asked to limit travel to needed trips only. 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 snowplows 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.
To report roadway issues, citizens can contact Public Works at 757-514-7600, 24/7 until normal operations resume.
As previously advised, City facilities including Recreation Centers, North Suffolk Library, Morgan Memorial Library, Suffolk Visitor Center, Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, Suffolk Art Gallery, and the Suffolk Executive Airport are closed today, Saturday, January 29th.
Suffolk Transit announced this morning that operations would be suspended for today, Saturday, January 29th, due to the safety of passengers, staff, and equipment.
Additionally, all Suffolk Parks & Recreation athletic programs are cancelled for today.
For after hour requests for emergency Public Utilities Services, residents can call 757-514-7000 (broken water pipes, etc.).
If you need to report a power outage, the contact information for utility companies is as follows,
Dominion Energy – Virginia, call 1-866-366-4357
Community Electric Cooperative, call 757-242-6181.