©2012 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Photos BY NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Paul captured this beautiful image after a freezing drizzle/fog event at Wintergreen on Sunday morning February 5th 2012.

Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, Virginia
Those of us living here in Nelson County know what a beautiful place it is. But mother nature left a very unexpected treat Sunday morning when these unique ice crystals formed on some of the plants up in the mountains near Wintergreen Resort and the Blue Ridge Parkway. NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura grabbed some truly wonderful shots of this winter palette.

Though only rain fell in the lower elevations of Nelson, temps hovered in the 20's for much of the day in the mountains.

Paul mentioned one of the unusual things about the patterns, the crystals all going in the same direction.

No real travel problems were encountered from the icing, though Paul did say some of the sidewalks and parking lots got a little slick.

Light winds blowing in one direction may have caused the ice formations to all go in one directions.

Sunny skies return on Monday!

©2012 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Photo By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Kim Holzer (3rd from left in green jacket) an instructor with Wintergreen Resort gives boarding and skiing pointers during this the Wintergreen Women's Weekend February 4th & 5th.

Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, Virginia
In spite of 60° temps a few days ago, skiing continues up in the mountains at Wintergreen Resort. This weekend the resort is holding their annual Women’s Weekend offering up the KEEN Rippin Chix skiing camp

Wintergreen says they have teamed up with:

“Alison Gannett’s Rippin Chix have teamed up to offer KEEN Rippin Chix skiing camp for all levels of women! This 2-day camp includes two full days of instruction and video analysis, with Alison’s famous steep skills toolbox instruction. Win huge prizes at her sustainability trivia contest during Saturday’s happy hour from 4-6 PM, guests welcome. Brush up on the green efforts by Alison and her sponsors, including KEEN, Patagonia, NEMO, Elemental Herbs, and Osprey. The instruction will focus on all levels of skiing, in a non-traditional teaching format, with several group levels, from green runs to mastering the steeps.”

Pretty cool!

©2012 www.nestrealty.com : The recently produced video featuring Blue Mountain Brewery, Yvette Stafford and NCL, along with other beautiful things in Nelson County, Virginia

Nelson County, Virginia

Flattered to say the least! Recently Nelson County Life Magazine and Publisher Yvette Stafford, along with Blue Mountain Brewery and other great locations in Nelson were featured in a video produced by Nest Realty Company about the county.

Check it out for yourself in the player down below! But those of us living here we know why it’s so nice

VIa NWS : There is an elevated fire threat this afternoon and evening for much of the area including counties shaded in lighter brown.

ELEVATED FIRE THREAT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1026 AM EST SUN JAN 29 2012

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-WASHINGTON-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-
NORTHERN BALTIMORE-HARFORD-MONTGOMERY-HOWARD-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE-
PRINCE GEORGES-ANNE ARUNDEL-CHARLES-ST. MARYS-CALVERT-
EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY-AUGUSTA-
ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-FREDERICK VA-PAGE-WARREN-CLARKE-NELSON-
ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-RAPPAHANNOCK-LOUDOUN-ORANGE-CULPEPER-
PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX-
ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-SPOTSYLVANIA-
KING GEORGE-NORTHERN FAUQUIER-SOUTHERN FAUQUIER-WESTERN HIGHLAND-
EASTERN HIGHLAND-HAMPSHIRE-MORGAN-BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-HARDY-
WESTERN GRANT-EASTERN GRANT-WESTERN MINERAL-EASTERN MINERAL-
WESTERN PENDLETON-EASTERN PENDLETON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…WASHINGTON…HAGERSTOWN…FREDERICK…
WESTMINSTER…GAITHERSBURG…COLUMBIA…BALTIMORE…ANNAPOLIS…
WALDORF…ST MARYS CITY…FROSTBURG…CUMBERLAND…STAUNTON…
WAYNESBORO…HARRISONBURG…WINCHESTER…FRONT ROYAL…
CHARLOTTESVILLE…LEESBURG…CULPEPER…MANASSAS…
MANASSAS PARK…FAIRFAX…ALEXANDRIA…FALLS CHURCH…
FREDERICKSBURG…WARRENTON…HIGHTOWN…MONTEREY…MARTINSBURG…
CHARLES TOWN…MOOREFIELD…BAYARD…MOUNT STORM…PETERSBURG…
ELK GARDEN…KEYSER…FORT ASHBY…CIRCLEVILLE…FRANKLIN
1026 AM EST SUN JAN 29 2012

…ELEVATED FIRE THREAT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR MUCH OF THE
MID-ATLANTIC REGION…

WESTERLY WINDS AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL INCREASE
TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS OF 40 MPH. THE COMBINATION
OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND GUSTY WINDS WILL PRODUCE AN
ELEVATED FIRE THREAT LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. OUTDOOR
BURNING IS NOT ADVISED DESPITE HIGH FUEL MOISTURES.

©2012 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Photos By NCL Valley Photographer : Hayley Osborne : They are spreading the love at Veritas with this nearly 6 foot tall sign made from corks! It's all part of a new campaign put on by Virginia's Tourism Department & Virginia Is For Lovers.

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
Virginia is for Lovers is about love – pure and simple.  The state tourism office is working to share the message that love is at heart of every Virginia vacation and to do so, is partnering with tourism destinations across the state to have the word “love” pop up in many different and unexpected places throughout Virginia.

(L to R) Maureen Kelley - Director of Nelson Tourism, Elizabeth Smith - Owner of Afton Mountain Vineyards & Chairperson of Nelson 151, Tamra Talmadge-Anderson- Director of PR - VA Tourism Corporation, and Andrew Hodson - owner of Veritas Vineyard & Winery toast to the kickoff this past Thursday afternoon at Veritas.

On Thursday, one example was revealed, when the Virginia Tourism Corporation, Veritas Vineyards and Nelson County tourism unveiled a giant LOVE artwork made from wine corks at a special event at the vineyard’s tasting room. The artwork is part of the Virginia is for Lovers campaign. Each letter of the word love is nearly six feet tall and made up of hundreds of corks. The LOVE artwork is suspended above the Veritas wine bar, giving the impression that LOVE is floating in mid-air.  The artwork will be featured in tourism advertisements starting late spring.

Wine lovers can visit Veritas Vineyards to share the love of Virginia wines. Visitors will be encouraged to take a picture of the LOVE artwork and share it on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/VirginiaisforLovers or on Twitter, using the special hashtag #LOVEVA. Tasting room hours are Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

On Friday – January 27th 2012 Veritas will extend their regular tasting room hours for the public unveiling of the LOVE campaign.

Each letter of the sign hanging at Veritas is made of up hundreds of corks.

“Our iconic Virginia is for Lovers brand is about love – pure and simple, and has been for more than 40 years,” said Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “We’re excited to bring the LOVE artwork to Veritas Vineyards and Nelson County as we promote Virginia as one of the top wine travel destinations on the East Coast.”

“Love is in the air at Veritas,” said Andrew Hodson, owner of Veritas Vineyard.  “We are thrilled to have the LOVE artwork on display at our winery and look forward to sharing our love of wines with visitors to our tasting room.”

Visitors can find everything they love in a vacation in Nelson County. Located on the Sunrise Side of the Blue Ridge, Nelson County is the travel destination for Virginia wine, craft beer and outdoor recreation lovers. With ten wineries, three breweries, a cidery and distillery, as well as amazing hiking, biking, local restaurants and lodging offerings, visitors can find the perfect getaway in Nelson County.

Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation. Visit www.Virginia.org start planning a trip to Virginia or call 1-800-VISITVA to request a free, Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.  Connect with Virginia is for Lovers on Facebook or on Twitter at @VisitVirginia.

©2012 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Photo By Tommy Stafford : After days and days of cloudy dreary weather, the blue skies and sunny weather returned Tuesday!

Nelson County, Virginia
After a long stretch of rainy, cold, sometimes snowy, dreary weather, mother nature did an about face Tuesday with the return of sunny blue skies and temps warming into the lower 60′s in the valley portions of Nelson County.

We’ll get another nice one Wednesday before rain settles back in by Thursday.

Enjoy it while you can!

©2012 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Photos By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : A Wounded Warrior launches from the ski lift this past Saturday at Wintergreen Resort. It was part of Wintergreen Adaptive Sports' annual tribute to the group.

Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, VA
For years we have been telling you about the Wounded Warriors weekend held annually at Wintergreen Resort.

A Wintergreen instructor helps one of the many Wounded Warriors down the slopes this past Saturday - January 21st 2012.

The Wintergreen Adaptive Sports website says their Wounded Warriors program is:

“A growing year-round effort supporting injured military heroes coping with the effects of war, by utilizing winter and summer sporting activities, special events, and confidence building/ mentoring activities.”

The 2012 Wounded Warriors takes a break for a group shot at Wintergreen Resort.

Support crews and staff at Wintergreen help a Wounded Warrior down the slopes this past Saturday.

The first Wounded Warriors Weekend was held in 2005 and has been held annually since then.

You can read more about the WAS Wounded Warrior’s history by clicking here.

©2012 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Photos By Tommy Stafford : Most of Nelson County awoke to light icing Saturday morning as after freezing rain fel overnight.

Nelson County, Virginia
As we talked about Friday night, a mixed bag of winter weather began moving through Nelson County during the evening hours. Though it was not a major ice storm by any standards, people awoke Saturday morning to ice encased trees, decks, power lines and more.

You wouldn't need to look at the temperature to know it's freezing in this pic. But the ice encased housing on our temperature gauge here at NCL in Greenfield confirms it's reading correctly!

Evergreens like these Lelands took the worst hit. The good news, temps were already rising just above freezing by mid-morning Saturday.

A Winter Weather Advisory expired early Saturday afternoon for most of the area.

©2012 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Photo By Tommy Stafford : By 10PM Friday night a light coating of sleet, freezing rain and snow was starting to coat roads in Nelson County.

Nelson County, Virginia
By mid-evening Friday wintry weather was starting to create some travel problems across parts of Nelson County. Just before 10PM wrecks were being reported on Route 664 in Beech Grove as well as other accidents along Route 29 in Eastern and Central Nelson County.

A Winter Weather Advisory expired at 1PM Saturday.

Via NWS: A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 1PM Saturday for areas highlighted in purple.

Winter Weather Advisory
Statement as of 12:50 PM EST on January 21, 2012

Winter Weather Advisory will expire at 1 PM EST this
afternoon…

The Winter Weather Advisory will be allowed to expire at 1 PM.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST SATURDAY
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1025 AM EST SAT JAN 21 2012

AUGUSTA-ROCKINGHAM-NELSON-ALBEMARLE-GREENE-WESTERN HIGHLAND-
EASTERN HIGHLAND-WESTERN PENDLETON-EASTERN PENDLETON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…STAUNTON…WAYNESBORO…HARRISONBURG…
CHARLOTTESVILLE…HIGHTOWN…MONTEREY…CIRCLEVILLE…FRANKLIN
1025 AM EST SAT JAN 21 2012

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON…

* PRECIPITATION TYPE…FREEZING RAIN AND AREAS OF FREEZING
DRIZZLE. RAIN AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* IMPACTS…SLIPPERY ROADS WILL MAKE TRAVEL HAZARDOUS. LIGHT ICING
IN THE VALLEYS IS STILL POSSIBLE ON EXPOSED SURFACES…INCLUDING
TREES AND POWER LINES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW…SLEET AND
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

Graphic Image © 2012 www.accuweather.com : Central Virginia will be on the edge of a possible wintry mix Friday Night into Saturday morning.

Nelson County, Virginia
After a relatively quiet few days across the area, changes are back in the forecast by Friday night into the weekend. A developing storm system may throw some winter precipitation into the Nelson area overnight Friday into Saturday morning. Accuweather.com talks more about the system that will affect the NE US and portions of the Mid Atlantic. A Winter Weather Advisory went up for the area Friday afternoon. Right now it appears the system will be somewhat of a glancing blow to the Nelson area. But, the potential for freezing rain, sleet and some light snow does exist overnight Friday into Saturday before changing to plain rain later in the day Saturday as temps warm to near 50°. The higher elevations of Nelson may see several hours of frozen precip overnight Friday.

By far the most likely affected areas will be to the north and east of Nelson.

Rain stays in the forecast into early next week, but temps remain relatively mild.

©2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Photos By Tommy Stafford : Smoke rises from the chimney here at NCL Sunday evening as the moon just starts to rise over the Rockfish Valley.

Greenfield
Nelson County, Virginia
Every once in awhile you get lucky when taking a picture. We did just that Sunday night as the moon was just starting to come up over NCL here in the Rockfish Valley. I was actually heading out to grab some more firewood and noticed the spectacular moon rising over the roof with the smoke coming from the chimney. With a little work on a tripod and a timed exposure the picture turned out pretty good.

Another shot, just as the moon was making it over the roofline.

Does make for a beautiful evening here in Nelson!

The areas highlighted in purple are under a Winter Weather Advisory overnight Wednesday for snow (some locally heavy). Nelson County also is under a Flood Watch until early Wednesday evening.

Winter Weather Statement
Statement as of 10:07 PM EST on December 07, 2011

…Winter Weather Advisory is cancelled…

The National Weather Service in Baltimore MD/Washington has
cancelled the Winter Weather Advisory.

Little to no additional accumulation is expected.

Wintergreen & Nelson County, Virginia
A wide variety of weather is being thrown at Nelson County over the next 18-24 hours. During the day Wednesday heavy rains affected the area. As of Wednesday evening some flood warnings were already active with some Nelson roads affected. You can always see the currently active watches or warnings just to your right under Nelson Weather Bulletins.

Overnight Wednesday possible snow will be the concern as much colder air begins working into the area. The most likely locations to receive notable accumulation will be at Wintergreen, Love, Montebello, Afton (higher elevations) and areas along the western facing slopes of the BRP. However, if the cold air arrives quickly enough before the moisture moves out, the valley portions down below in Nelson could see an inch or so. Timing is key here. Warm temps over the past several days have ground temps well above freezing. But, much colder air will begin arriving Wednesday afternoon possible allowing for accumulating snow overnight.

Here's the latest snowfall map created by Meteorologist Travis Koshko at our news partner station CBS-19 in Charlottesville. If enough cold air arrives in time those amounts may be nudged upwards, particularly in the higher elevations of Nelson County.

Tommy will be providing updated audio as needed in his weathercast here.

The latest watch warning info for Nelson by clicking here.

VIa NWS: The potential exists for a few inches of snow in the mountains of Nelson County late Friday night into Saturday.

Wintergreen & The BRP
Nelson County, Virginia
Updated 5:54 AM 10.29.11

A developing low pressure area that will be situated off of the east coast by Friday into Saturday combined with much colder temperatures may create some snowfall into the mountains of Nelson & nearby counties. This is particularly the case above 1500 feet in elevation. A WINTER STORM WATCH has been issued for the area from late Friday night until Saturday afternoon.

This is primarily a mountain snow event, but valley areas could see a mix with an accumulation between a dusting to an inch depending on how low temps drop overnight Friday into Saturday morning.

Much colder weather began settling in during the overnight hours Thursday night into Friday morning. Highs on Friday in the valley will be in the upper 40′s to near 50° with mountain high temps in the low to mid 40′s. Overnight lows will be below freezing in the mountains in the upper 20′s and near freezing or just above in the valley over parts of the weekend.