Photo: Getty Images
The National Weather Service has extended the Winter Storm Warning for the Roanoke, Lynchburg and New River Valley areas through Thursday morning as freezing rain and ice continue to bring down trees, causing power outages.
APCO says more than 35,000 Virginians are without power. The heavy, wet snow, and ice accumulation throughout the region weighed down trees and took down power lines.
Ashley Workman, an Appalachian Power spokesperson, says the are actively working to restore power as quickly as possible, with more than 5,700 workers, some from other states, out trying to restore power.
"When ice accumulation is over a quarter of an inch and there's heavy snow, that's when we can really start to see problems that can lead to power outages," Workman says.
"We're working to get them restored as quickly and safely as we can. Right now we're seeing the most heavily impacted areas as Henry, Carroll and Franklin counties."
If you come across a downed power line, Workman says you need to stay back.
Rain and freezing rain will continue tonight with temperatures staying around 32 degrees. We'll see some clearing on Thursday.
School closings and delays continue Thursday. CLICK HERE to see the list from our media partner, ABC13 - WSET.
Keep up-to-date with weather and road conditions, power outages and school closings from ABC13 - WSET and our iHeartRadio STORM CENTER.