East Coast Winter Storm Hits Amherst Virginia

Amherst, Virginia, has been covered with at least a foot of snow since starting Friday evening around 3:00 p.m. I was out in the snow after it all started yesterday evening. Many motorists are being stranded along highway 29 and back roads. Many motorists that were in ditches were in front wheel drive or two wheel drive vehicles. These vehicles are not great for the amount of snow we have now. You will need a four-wheel drive vehicle to go anywhere.

Several stores, banks and restaurants have closed throughout the area. This will be extra hard on local businesses as this is the last shopping weekend before Christmas.

As I was driving this morning, I noticed the Virginia Department of Transportation doing the best they can under the circumstances. In my opinion if you do not have to go out, I would suggest staying in as some of the main roads are still covered. Back roads have not been plowed as of yet. The Virginia Department of Transportation seems to be concentrating on the primary roads at this time.

Many local Churches are going to be closed Sunday due to the snowstorm that has blanketed our area. A few of the local Churches have decided to close, and are as follows, Amherst Baptist, Bethel Baptist, Clifford Baptist, Grace Baptist, Monroe Church of God, and St. Francis of Assisi, Temple Baptist and Union Christian. Other Churches in surrounded cities and counties that will be closed can be viewed at http://static.wset.com/closetext.html

Many local grocery stores were packed Friday evening with last minute shoppers stocking up on milk, bread and snacks in fear of not getting out for a few days. Food Lion and Wal-mart saw many shoppers come through their checkout lines. Parking Lots were full of vehicles from early yesterday morning to late evening.

I do not remember a snowstorm this huge since 1996, so getting this snowstorm has been very nice and one that was long overdue for our area. I for one am glad to see this snowstorm on the east coast. If everything falls into place forecasters are saying we may be seeing another East Coast storm on Christmas Day. I say bring on the snow it will make for a wonderful white Christmas.

As for power outages, no one I know is without power yet. Although it could change before the day is over.

With all the snow that has fallen in Amherst, Virginia, I have to say, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.