Southwest and Southside Virginia Weather

Gusty winds knock out power for over 100,000 in Virginia

by Kevin Myatt March 16, 2026March 16, 2026

A dynamic storm system was not as prolific with tornadoes as expected in Virginia, but brought heavier snow than anticipated to much of Southwest Virginia.

The Storm Prediction Center map for Monday shows a moderate risk in red -- level 4 out of 5 for potential severe storm areal coverage -- from Danville and Lynchburg eastward, with somewhat lesser risk areas to the west. Any location in Virginia has some risk for damaging winds, hail, or a tornado on Monday, before gusty cold winds and snow showers return later in the day. Courtesy of National Weather Service.

Weather

Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes possible Monday with another sharp temperature shift

by Kevin Myatt March 15, 2026March 15, 2026

Monday’s risk of severe storms across Virginia is a sequel to last week’s 80s-to-snow transition — and some snow is again possible in western Virginia by late Monday.

March opens with the sun shining over the wetlands walkway near the South Roanoke County Library on March 1. Photo by Kevin Myatt.

Weather

In the 2020s, March has been more of a spring month than a winter one

by Kevin Myatt March 11, 2026March 11, 2026

This month so far has followed the recent warm March trend with some almost summerlike high temperatures.

While most of Virginia was cloudy for the total lunar eclipse just before sunrise Tuesday, some of Southwest Virginia cleared out for the "blood moon" to be visible as it moved into Earth's shadow, as seen in this photo from Hansonville in Russell County. Courtesy of Billy Bowling

Weather

Spring marches in proudly: Some 80s temperatures likely by weekend

by Kevin Myatt March 4, 2026March 4, 2026

A winter rated “severe” to “extreme” in one data matrix yields the floor to almost summerlike warmth as March begins.

The Appomattox County tornado of February 2016 leaves behind a damaged truck amid a desolate landscape of broken trees. Courtesy of National Weather Service.

Weather

A decade ago, deadly winter tornado cut through Appomattox County

by Kevin Myatt February 25, 2026February 25, 2026

An El Niño winter that shifted wildly from warmth to snow also spawned one of our region’s worst tornadoes in decades.

The sun sets on a snowy-sleety landscape in Botetourt County between Fincastle and Buchanan in late January.. Most of the thick icy crust has melted across our region, but remnants remain in shady areas. Courtesy of Phillip Simmons.

Weather

Despite our recently departed Arctic chill, it’s been a warm, dry winter over much of the U.S.

by Kevin Myatt February 18, 2026February 17, 2026

The warm part of that equation is breaking in for at least a short spell in Virginia this week, but the dry part has been with us despite the mostly melted snowpack.