A formidable winter storm is currently impacting Virginia, bringing significant snowfall and frigid temperatures across the region. Snow began falling before sunrise on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, and is expected to continue into Thursday morning. Forecasts indicate that areas along U.S. Highway 58, from Emporia east into the Tidewater region, could receive between 7 to 10 inches of snow. The Petersburg and Tri-Cities areas, as well as the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck, are projected to see 5 to 7 inches, while regions from Ashland to Petersburg and Farmville to the eastern side of the Northern Neck may experience 3 to 5 inches of accumulation. Temperatures are anticipated to remain well below freezing, with highs in the mid-20s and lows in the teens, exacerbating the storm’s impact.
Unlike northern states accustomed to heavy snowfall, Virginia and many other southern states typically experience milder winters and, as a result, may lack the extensive resources and infrastructure necessary to respond as effectively to significant snow events. This disparity can lead to more pronounced disruptions in transportation, power services, and daily activities when such uncommon weather patterns occur.
In anticipation of the storm’s impact, Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency on February 10, 2025, enabling the mobilization of state resources to assist affected communities. The Virginia National Guard has activated approximately 25 Soldiers to support response operations in Southwest Virginia and has positioned about 65 Soldiers and Airmen in strategic locations, including Bowling Green, Sandston, Lynchburg, Emporia, Virginia Beach, and the Eastern Shore. These personnel are equipped with heavy-duty trucks capable of navigating heavy snow to distribute food and water, conduct welfare checks, and perform debris removal to clear roads. Additionally, approximately 25 members of the Virginia Defense Force are on duty to provide logistics, maintenance, and administrative support for the response teams.
StateDefenseForce.com extends its gratitude to the dedicated servicemen and women of the Virginia Defense Force and the National Guard for their unwavering commitment to serving and responding to emergencies arising from this severe winter storm.
VNG continues support to Southwest Virginia, stages for possible snow response
By Cotton Puryear | Virginia National Guard Public Affairs
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia National Guard has approximately 25 Soldiers on duty supporting response operations Feb. 19, 2025, in Southwest Virginia and has about 65 Soldiers and Airmen staged in Bowling Green, Sandston, Lynchburg, Emporia, Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore. All troops are ready for missions Wednesday morning with transportation, commodity distribution and debris reduction capabilities.
“This is what the National Guard is all about,” said Brig. Gen. Todd Hubbard, Virginia National Guard Director of then Joint Staff. “Our Soldiers and Airmen were in the right place at the right time to augment local emergency response efforts to help our fellow Virginians in a time of need. I am really proud of how adaptable, flexible and resilient our personnel have been in rapidly changing situations. Now we have been able to position additional forces at key locations in advance of a potentially hazardous snow storm, and our troops will be ready to go if needed. I want to once again thank our families and employers for their continued support which is so critical to mission success.”
The VNG conducted 17 missions Feb. 14-18 in Southwest Virginia, distributing more than 1,735 cases of water and nearly 1,170 cases of food, assisting with the evacuation of 94 civilians and 27 pets and conducting nearly 160 welfare checks. Soldiers also cleared 15 trees and other debris.
VNG Soldiers and Airmen are equipped with heavy duty trucks capable of transportation through heavy snow to distribute food and water and conduct welfare checks. They are also organized into chainsaw teams to conduct debris reduction to clear roads.
Approximately 25 additional Soldiers, Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force are on duty to provide logistics, maintenance and administrative support for the response teams at their staging locations and mission command support at the VNG’s Joint Force Headquarters in Richmond.
During domestic operations, the VNG responds as part of a multi-agency team with other state and local agencies to provide support capability requests submitted by Virginia localities through the Virginia Emergency Support Team.
Localities looking for VNG support should make their requests to the VEST, and they determine which organization can best provide the requested assistance as they coordinate the regional and statewide response.
Sources: Virginia National Guard – ABC 8 News
