Deadly winter storm slams mid-Atlantic, Appalachians with heavy snow
Cities in Virginia and North Carolina recorded some of their snowiest days in years. Now, as the storm moves off shore, some flurries are possible, but cold air is left behind.
RICHMOND, Va. – Millions of people from the Tennessee Valley to the mid-Atlantic remain under winter weather alerts as the region continues to clean up after a deadly winter storm that slammed the region on Wednesday.
Treacherous travel conditions have been reported on numerous roads and highways, including a deadly crash that occurred in Orange County, North Carolina.
Drone video shows the snowy scene in Virginia Beach, Virginia on Feb. 19, 2025 during a major winter storm.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, first responders were alerted to a multi-vehicle crash along Interstate 40 in Orange County just before 3 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.
Troopers said two separate collisions had occurred in the area of Interstate 40 and 89, causing traffic to slow and come to a stop, backing up onto I-40.
That traffic, officials said, was struck from behind by several vehicles, including a tractor-trailer truck that crashed into the back of a passenger vehicle, killing Jerolyn Day Wilson, 78, of Burlington, North Carolina.
Residents in communities across western North Carolina are still trying to recover in the wake of Hurricane Helene last year, with many people still living in tents and lighting campfires to stay warm as temperatures drop. FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray visited the community of Swannanoa and spoke with people about the recovery efforts months after the deadly storm.
The driver of that truck, who was identified as William Crowell Kellam, 44, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, was arrested and charged with Misdemeanor Death by Motor Vehicle and Exceeding a Safe Speed for Conditions.
At least three other multi-vehicle crashes had also occurred behind the fatal crash, which then blocked I-40. In addition, 12 other collisions occurred within the immediate area of I-40 near mile marker 159, with a total of 53 vehicles involved in the incident.
On Wednesday alone, officials said troopers responded to more than 1,100 crashes statewide, as well as more than 700 calls for service.
The lingering effects of a deadly winter storm continue across portions of the Appalachians and mid-Atlantic on Thursday. FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray was in Swannanoa, North Carolina, with the latest as light snow fell across the region that’s still recovering in the wake of Hurricane Helene last year.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear had urged people to remain vigilant because of the storm as the region continues to recover from deadly flash flooding that slammed the region last weekend.
He warned that snow and bitterly cold temperatures are expected across much of the state through the rest of the week.
Winter storm turns historic in mid-Atlantic
A video recorded in Richmond, Virginia, shows snow-covered roads as a winter storm starts to move into the region on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.
The FOX Forecast Center said the heaviest snow from this storm fell across the Hampton Roads region of Virginia and North Carolina, and the snow totals have been historic.
More than a foot of snow was reported around the Virginia Beach and Norfolk areas, which is uncommon for southeastern Virginia.
Substantial snow has fallen across portions of Virginia, including in Virginia Beach which picked up nearly 11 inches during the storm on Wednesday. FOX Weather Meteorologist Ian Oliver was in Virginia Beach on Thursday morning where sand and palm trees have been covered in snow.
Norfolk, for example, has only seen five previous winter storms that produced at least a foot of snow since 1890.
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Crews are continuing to clear roads and highways after a deadly winter storm barreled across the mid-Atlantic on Wednesday. FOX Weather Meteorologist Marissa Torres was in Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday morning with the latest on the storm.
With more than 10 inches of snow falling in Norfolk on Wednesday, the FOX Forecast Center said it was the single snowiest day since 13.4 inches fell on Dec. 26, 2010, and the fifth-snowiest day on record.
In Elizabeth City, North Carolina, more than 10 inches of snow has fallen this winter season, the most since 39 inches during the winter of 1979-80.
Elsewhere, 2-4 inches of snow was reported in the Raleigh–Durham area of North Carolina, and 2-5 inches fell around Richmond, Virginia.
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