UPDATE - SATURDAY, JANUARY 29 - 5:00 P.M.

There are no current alerts for Suffolk from the National Weather Service. However, due to low temperatures in the teens tonight along with below freezing wind chills, there could still be isolated icy spots on some roadways. Motorists are asked to limit travel to needed trips only. 

Suffolk Public Works will remain on 12 hour shifts until midnight tonight into Sunday morning. At that time, they will transition to reduced response crews at each zone until 8 a.m., Sunday, January 30^th. Beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday, staff will return to regular on-call coverage. 

As of 2 p.m. this afternoon, Public Works staff have used approximately 469 tons of abrasives on City roadways. Roads were reported to be clear and drying with some drifting spots that crews are watching.

To report roadway issues, citizens can contact Public Works at 757-514-7600 until midnight tonight. After midnight, citizens can call Non-Emergency Dispatch at 757-923-2350, Option 8 to report any roadway hazards. 

As noted in a media release earlier today, City of Suffolk facilities with regular Sunday operating hours will be open tomorrow, Sunday, January 30, 2022. Those facilities include the Suffolk Visitor Center, Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, Suffolk Art Gallery, and the Suffolk Executive Airport.

For after hours 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.

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UPDATE - SATURDAY, JANUARY 29 - 2:00 P.M.

 City of Suffolk facilities with regular Sunday operating hours will be open tomorrow, Sunday, January 30, 2022. Those facilities include the Suffolk Visitor Center, Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, Suffolk Art Gallery, and the Suffolk Executive Airport.

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UPDATE - SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, - 9:30 A.M.

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 29^th. 

Suffolk Transit announced this morning that operations would be suspended for today, Saturday, January 29^th, 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.

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UPDATE - SATURDAY, JANUARY 29 - 6:55 A.M.

SUFFOLK, Virginia (January 29, 2022) Suffolk Transit service has been suspended for today, Saturday, January 29, 2022. Staff have evaluated conditions this morning and determined it is not safe for passengers, staff, and equipment to operate transit services today.

An announcement concerning service on Monday, January 31^st will be made on Sunday, January 30^th.  

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SUFFOLK CITY FACILITIES TO CLOSE ON SATURDAY JANUARY 29

City of Suffolk facilities will be closed on Saturday, January 29, 2022, due to the impact of winter weather expected tonight Friday, January 28^th into Saturday, January 29^th. 

Facility closures include Recreation Centers, North Suffolk Library, Morgan Memorial Library, Suffolk Visitor Center, Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, Suffolk Art Gallery, and the Suffolk Executive Airport.

Additionally, all Suffolk Parks & Recreation athletic programs are cancelled for Saturday January 29^th. 

Suffolk Transit will continue to operate on Saturday, January 29^nd. However operations could change based on the safety of road conditions, at which time, a further update would be released.

Staff encourage motorists to stay off the roads after the onset of winter weather conditions and limit travel to necessary trips. A City produced public service announcement related to winter driving safety tips can be viewed at this link: https://youtu.be/b_EZ7FTsOeE. 

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.)

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UPDATE - Friday, January 28 - 9:30 a.m.

SUFFOLK, VA (January 28, 2022) 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 29^th. 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.)

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CITY OF SUFFOLK PREPARES FOR IMPACTS OF WINTER WEATHER THIS WEEKEND

SUFFOLK, VA (January 27, 2022) The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch for the City of Suffolk and surrounding areas this morning covering from Friday evening through Saturday afternoon. The watch calls for possible heavy snow with accumulations of 2 to 4 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 35 miles per hour. 

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency today, Thursday, January 27, 2022, in anticipation of a winter storm arriving tomorrow affecting several regions of the Commonwealth. At this time, forecasts indicate that while this will be a statewide event, areas along the coastline will experience the largest impacts. Heavy wet snow along with high winds are predicted which poses a threat for downed trees, electrical outages, and major impacts to travel. In addition, there is also the threat of tidal flooding. 

The City’s Office of Emergency Management is coordinating with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and National Weather Service to monitor weather forecasts. City staff are preparing ahead of the storm for potential impacts to roadways and necessary emergency responses.

At this time, Public Works staff are prepping equipment and stocking materials. Pretreating in this storm will most likely require the use of sand and abrasives as any other materials will wash away due to rainfall which would precede the snow tomorrow night. As the snow starts, staff will spread salt and sand to get a base layer down under the snow. The pretreating will be on our primary and most significant collector roadways. Staffing will consist of a lead 8 hour shift from 4 p.m. Friday until midnight which will be pretreating in the rain and continuing to treat roadways as conditions turn to ice/snow. 24 hour a day, 12 hour shifts will begin at midnight Friday into Saturday morning to begin addressing the spreading and plowing operations. These shifts are expected to run as noted though Sunday night/Monday morning.

As a reminder, the Roadway Division of Public Works is responsible for clearing snow and ice from Suffolk public streets. The primary purpose of snow removal is to clear snow for emergency vehicles, hospital access, and service vehicles such as school buses, public transit buses and refuse trucks.

With safety and emergency accessibility being the primary concerns, the first priority is given to all primary or main roadways, followed by secondary arterials and connectors. Neighborhood streets are cleared last and, due to the size of the equipment, configuration of neighborhood streets and the presence of cars parked on the street, may not be accessible by City plows. An interactive map of the City’s priority routes for public paved roadways within the City can be viewed online: https://suffolkva.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=159217ab90c34c8da06e5a9207fea2af. Please note that removal timeframes and priority are subject to change with weather conditions. 

When it becomes necessary to operate snowplows, residents can assist in the efficiency of snow removal by doing the following:

--Avoid travel unless absolutely necessary; if you must travel, please drive cautiously and slowly, removing all snow and ice from the whole vehicle before driving

--Leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles

--Stay back and avoid passing snowplows; snow or abrasive can come from the plow while operating

--Avoid parking on streets when snow or ice is predicted

--Shovel sidewalks as soon as possible after storm; however, avoid shoveling snow from driveways or sidewalks into the roadway

--Clear snow around fire hydrants; firefighters will be able to respond more quickly in the event of an emergency.

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.)