News Flash

Jan. 5, 2018 – Libraries, parks and community centers will remain closed this weekend. Despite significant progress clearing the city's busiest roads Friday, neighborhood streets remain piled or packed with snow. The weather service issued another overnight wind-chill advisory.

However, the Virginia Hot Rod & Custom Car Show is taking place Saturday and Sunday at the Hampton Roads Convention Center.

Mercury Boulevard, Hampton Roads Center Parkway, Armistead Avenue and Big Bethel Road and more major thoroughfares are in reasonably good condition. Although temperatures remained below freezing, sun and salt helped melt packed snow and plows were able to scrape down to the street on many main roads.

Crews Friday morning are working on those, as well as: East Pembroke, First Street, Little Back River, Clemwood Parkway, Powhatan Parkway, Marcella Road and other connector roads. Because the temperatures keep re-freezing melted snow, Allsbrook warned that even cleared road may have a sheet of ice. For that reason, he urged that people only venture out for emergencies.

Hampton police reported no overnight accidents Thursday night, but several stuck or stranded vehicles. Vehicles without extra clearance -- and even some SUVs -- have been getting stuck on snow drifts or piles. Accidents picked up in the daylight Friday, when more cars ventured out. 

Residents are urged to give snowplows room to work. Do not try to pass them. 

Hampton Roads Transit buses are not running this weekend, and Hampton City Schools closed schools for Friday and canceled weekend events.

Both Thursday and Friday's trash pickups were canceled. A new schedule will be communicated Sunday afternoon, after officials determine when collections can resume. 

Hampton's Public Works crews are continuing their around-the-clock efforts to clear city streets. With sunny skies Friday morning, crews began spreading additional salt, hoping that could help melt the snow and ice, creating slush that plows could scrape off the streets. 

The National Weather Service issued another wind-chill advisory, from 6 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday. The low of 8 degrees is expected to feel like 10 degrees below zero and could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes, the service warned.

By Thursday afternoon, Public Works had already used more than 200 tons of salt and about 3,600 gallons of brine. Approximately 200 Public Works, Parks and Hampton Police personnel had been activated, and approximately 740 lane miles of roads and street had been brined. Approximately 1200 lane miles have been salted and plowed.

Residents are encouraged to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.

"Please take care and keep our emergency essential personnel in your thoughts as they continue to brave the elements on our collective behalf," City Manager Mary Bunting said.