©2012 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Photo By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Light snow falling began falling in the higher elevations of Nelson County on Wednesday morning. Paul grabbed this shot at Wintergreen Resort.

Nelson County, Virginia
As Tommy talked about in his audio weather for Wednesday, light snow began falling across Nelson County. Most of the people seeing any snowflakes were up in the mountains at places like Love, Montebello, and Wintergreen. Other reports were coming in to our west from Staunton and Waynesboro as well.

No real travel problems have been reported and the significant snow will be over with by the early evening hours. Sunny skies return Thursday.

©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!

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 : 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 : Photo By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : A light snow fell across the mountains of Nelson County Sunday. Paul grabbed this shot from the Wintergreen area. Beautiful.

Nelson County, Virginia
Not a big one, but certainly a beautiful one. That’s how Sunday’s light snow up in the mountains of Nelson County could be described. In the lower elevations not a lot of snow fell, mainly flurries, but up at Wintergreen Resort and other areas along the Blue Ridge Parkway such as Love and Montebello, it was just enough to create a breathtaking day.

Snow covered everything at Wintergreen this past Sunday - January 22nd 2012.

No real travel problems, but certainly a postcard scene.

Meanwhile a Freezing Rain Advisory continues until 6AM Monday morning for all of Nelson and much of Central and Northern Virginia.

Via NWS: A Freezing Rain Advisory is in effect until 6AM for the areas highlighted in pink.

Winter Weather Statement
Statement as of 8:58 AM EST on January 23, 2012

…Freezing Rain Advisory is cancelled…

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

Temperatures will continue to rise through the mid and upper 30s
late this morning.

FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST MONDAY
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
126 PM EST SUN JAN 22 2012

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-HARFORD-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE-PRINCE GEORGES-
ANNE ARUNDEL-CHARLES-CALVERT-NELSON-ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-
ORANGE-CULPEPER-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX-
ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-SPOTSYLVANIA-
SOUTHERN FAUQUIER-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…WASHINGTON…BALTIMORE…ANNAPOLIS…
WALDORF…CHARLOTTESVILLE…CULPEPER…MANASSAS…MANASSAS PARK…
FAIRFAX…ALEXANDRIA…FALLS CHURCH…FREDERICKSBURG
126 PM EST SUN JAN 22 2012

…FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST MONDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS
ISSUED A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM
EST MONDAY.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE…FREEZING RAIN AND FREEZING DRIZZLE.

* IMPACTS…LIGHT ICING ON ROADWAYS AND ELEVATED SURFACES WILL
MAKE TRAVELING HAZARDOUS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN OR
FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS. SLOW DOWN AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

©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.

©2012 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Photos By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Cold temps that pushed into the area by early Friday morning set the stage for perfect snowmaking at Wintergreen Resort. Additional slopes will be open for the extended holiday weekend.

Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, Virignia
64° on Thursday – 15° in the mountains on Friday. Perfect stage for snowmaking, even on the advanced slopes at Wintergreen Resort. According to the resort’s blog, The Mountain Message, The Highlands will be open by Sunday.

A boarder takes to Upper Dobie this past Friday at Wintergreen Resort

Snowsports instructors at Wintergreen Resort pose for a quick photo between lessons this past Friday.

Kevin (Chocolate Man) Sumter shows off a perfect view of the winter conditions in his goggles at Wintergreen Resort. (With parent's permission) Kevin is known for giving out chocolate to all of his students! Now that's our kind of instructor!

For the latest slope conditions this weekend at Wintergreen Resort, click here.

Via NWS: The areas shaded in brown will be under a wind advisory until 6PM Friday 1.13.12

High Wind Advisory
Statement as of 1:28 PM EST on January 13, 2012

…Wind Advisory is cancelled…

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

Wind gusts today have been in the 25 to 35 mph range…with a few
gusts around 40 mph across the ridge tops. While that makes for a
breezy day…Wind Advisory criteria is not expected to be reached.

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST FRIDAY
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
934 AM EST FRI JAN 13 2012

WASHINGTON-EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY-
AUGUSTA-ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-FREDERICK VA-PAGE-WARREN-CLARKE-
NELSON-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…HAGERSTOWN…FROSTBURG…CUMBERLAND…
STAUNTON…WAYNESBORO…HARRISONBURG…WINCHESTER…FRONT ROYAL…
HIGHTOWN…MONTEREY…MARTINSBURG…CHARLES TOWN…MOOREFIELD…
BAYARD…MOUNT STORM…PETERSBURG…ELK GARDEN…KEYSER…
FORT ASHBY…CIRCLEVILLE…FRANKLIN
934 AM EST FRI JAN 13 2012

…WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING…

* WINDS…WEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH ARE
EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT…
ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

2011 had some very hot days and some cold ones too! Click on the image to view the 2011 history of our weather station here at NCL in Greenfield.

Nelson County, Virginia
Now that 2012 is officially underway, we thought it would be neat to go back and take a look at 2011′s weather in review. No real surprises in 2011, but we did have some 100+ degree days back in the summer and there was a 10° overnight low. The hottest day of the year in 2011 was 102° on July the 22nd. The lowest temp was of 10° was set on both January 24th and again on February 11th. For the year we saw 43.95″ of rain. (though some locations in the valley and toward Woods Mill picked up nearly 50″ for the year) Snow wise we didn’t get a lot. Less than 4″ of measurable snow for the entire year.

Head up top to Wintergreen and our station at The Wintergreen Nature Foundation shows a different story. Though we are missing the month of December 2011 due to a computer outage there. (that station should be back online sometime in the month of January) Click on the image above to see the report from Wintergreen in detail.

At Wintergreen the trends were the same, but obviously the extremes weren’t as wild. The hottest day of the year on the mountain happened on July 22nd when a temp of 87° was reached. The lowest reading was 6° on January 8th. For the year Wintergreen picked up 50.75″ of rain and that doesn’t even include anything that fell in December. In the snow department 5″ of snow total for 2011 was the word. Not counting the manmade snow that is!

Oh, and we did see a wind gust of 54 MPH up there back on February 18th.

Be looking for the addition of some new stations and some web cams over the coming year.

Bring on 2012!