February 3, 2014
Long Ridge of Tennessee Valley Divide
Freezing Rain Coats The Mountain Ridges
Photograph by Wayne Riner - © All Rights Reserved.
Heavy rain gave way to freezing rain into morning hours of February 3 across mountain ridges of Wise & Dickenson counties.
February 3, 2014
Elevation 4189 feet
Eagle Knob of High Knob Massif
Significant Icing On Trees At Summit Level
Photograph by Steve Blankenbecler - © All Rights Reserved.
Ice accumulations were significant but
less than crippling due to an abundance of warm air aloft. However, a critical factor was N-NE winds that generated heaviest icing with upsloping into the High Knob Massif - Tennessee Valley Divide and Pine Mountain ( along the VA-KY stateline ).
less than crippling due to an abundance of warm air aloft. However, a critical factor was N-NE winds that generated heaviest icing with upsloping into the High Knob Massif - Tennessee Valley Divide and Pine Mountain ( along the VA-KY stateline ).
Sheltered valleys had less icing than ridges because this is an upslope feature of this area that consistently generates cooling
on northern component winds.
on northern component winds.
February 3, 2014
Elevation 2650 feet
Long Ridge of Tennessee Valley Divide
Freezing Rain Loads "Burning Bush" With Ice
Photograph by Wayne Riner - © All Rights Reserved.
Tennessee Valley Divide
Icing On Long Ridge of Sandy Ridge
Photograph by Wayne Riner - © All Rights Reserved.
Air temperatures at summit levels of the
High Knob Massif and Black Mountain were up to 10 degrees colder than model projections, for the 875-850 MB level, due to cooling with rising air
to create a battle between orographic cooling and warming with advection aloft.
Air temperatures at summit levels of the
High Knob Massif and Black Mountain were up to 10 degrees colder than model projections, for the 875-850 MB level, due to cooling with rising air
to create a battle between orographic cooling and warming with advection aloft.
Warm advection became stronger and more expansive than initially forecast to push even the main snowband farther northwest than expected, into northern Kentucky and southern Ohio.
February 3, 2014
Wise County, Virginia
State Route 160 On Black Mountain
Hazardous Travel Between Appalachia & Stateline
While less significant than December 6-7 icing,
a prolonged period of dense, freezing fog again developed to add icing.
The Icing Event of December 6-7, 2013
February 3, 2014 at 3:40 PM
Low Clouds Obscure High Knob Massif
The High Knob Massif was obscured by freezing fog throughout daylight hours of February 3.
February 3, 2014 at 5:39 PM
Cloud Bases Lowering Rapidly Toward Sunset
February 3, 2014 at 5:51 PM
Freezing Fog Engulfing The Town of Wise
February 3, 2014 at 6:10 PM
Freezing Fog Engulfing The Town of Wise
February 3, 2014 at 6:24 PM
Freezing Fog Engulfing The Town of Wise
The reduction in visibility became serious into evening and overnight hours of February 3-4 as cloud bases lowered across middle elevations.
My Elevation Reference Zones
Upper Elevations: Above 3000 feet
Middle Elevations: 2000 to 3000 feet
Lower Elevations: Below 2000 feet
February 3, 2014
Engulfed Amid Freezing Fog at 10:35 PM
University of Virginia's College In Wise
February 4, 2014
Engulfed Amid Freezing Fog at 12:06 AM
University of Virginia's College In Wise
February 4, 2014
Engulfed Amid Freezing Fog at 1:06 AM
University of Virginia's College In Wise
February 4, 2014
Engulfed Amid Freezing Fog at 2:16 AM
University of Virginia's College In Wise
February 4, 2014
Engulfed Amid Freezing Fog at 3:00 AM
University of Virginia's College In Wise
During overnight hours warm air advection dissipated clouds and ended freezing fog above 3000 feet in the High Knob Massif as southerly winds developed.
Fast forward 6 hours
February 4, 2014
Icy Roof-tops At 9:17 AM
University of Virginia's College In Wise
Freezing fog coated hand rails, vehicles, roof-tops and more!
A rather atypical setting developed as the
Wise Plateau remained engulfed in fog beneath an inversion, without penetration of warmer air until well after sunrise February 4.
As sunrise approached air temperatures were warmer below the elevation of Norton-Wise and also above their elevations! Inversional conditions persisted throughout the day but shifted position, with deep hollows of the lower terrain ( below 2000 feet ) becoming cooler than many well mixed ( by wind ) mid-upper elevation sites.
February 4, 2014
Icy Roof-tops Begin Melting At 9:48 AM
University of Virginia's College In Wise
( Elevation 2600 feet )
February 4, 2014 at 9:18 AM
Looking Toward The High Knob Massif
University of Virginia's College In Wise
Visibility finally returned to yield
a view of mountain wave clouds.
February 4, 2014 at 2:11 PM
Looking Toward The High Knob Massif
University of Virginia's College In Wise
The same type of setting extended across ridge communities of Dickenson County, as well documented by photographer Wayne Riner
on Long Ridge of Sandy Ridge.
February 4, 2014 at 9:13 AM
Long Ridge of Tennessee Valley Divide
Bluebird House Amid Morning Freezing Fog & Ice
NASA Satellite Imagery
Interesting Views From Space
Click consecutively on images in viewer for motion
NASA Visible Image At 8:15 AM February 4, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 8:32 AM February 4, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 8:45 AM February 4, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 9:02 AM February 4, 2014
Dense Fog Over University of Virginia's College In Wise
NASA Visible Image At 9:02 AM February 4, 2014
Fog Banked Up Against High Knob Massif-Landform
NASA Visible Image At 9:02 AM February 4, 2014
Counties Overlayed For Reference
NASA Visible Image At 9:02 AM February 4, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 9:15 AM February 4, 2014
As satellite images reveal, and photographer Harold Jerrell illustrates, it was a much different morning toward the southwest amid the Powell River Basin of western Lee County.
February 4, 2014 at 8:18 AM
SE of Rose Hill in Lee County, Virginia
Powell River Basin of High Knob Landform
Majestic Morning Sunrise Above Silver Leaf
High Knob Massif Anchor Point
For Dramatic Cloud Plume
February 3, 2014
Click consecutively on images in viewer for motion
NASA Visible Image At 12:02 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 12:02 PM February 3, 2014
Using Counties Overlayed As Reference For Plumes
NASA Visible Image At 12:15 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 12:32 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 12:45 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 1:15 PM February 3, 2014
Illustration of Cloud Plume Extent And Anchor Point
NASA Visible Image At 1:15 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 1:15 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 1:32 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 1:45 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 2:02 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 2:15 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 2:32 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 2:45 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 2:45 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 2:45 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 3:15 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 3:32 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 3:45 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 4:15 PM February 3, 2014
NASA Visible Image At 4:32 PM February 3, 2014
Light Snow-Rime Event
Upsloping NW-N Air Flow
February 6-7, 2014
The first of what appears to be multiple waves
of snow and rime formation started during February 5-6 with a dusting to 1" of snow and
very nice riming across upper elevations.
A total of 0.7" of snow accumulated in Clintwood during morning hours of February 6. Many roads became slick across Wise-Dickenson & northern Lee-Scott counties. Cloud bases obscured upper elevations, above 3000 to 3300 feet, to generate nice rime formation.
A selected 11 minute period of time below, looking toward the High Knob Massif from Wise, reveals persistent upslope clouds forming on northerly air flowing into the massif.
Click consecutively on images in viewer for motion
( Elevation 2600 feet )
February 6, 2014 at 9:37 AM
Looking Toward The High Knob Massif
University of Virginia's College In Wise
February 6, 2014 at 9:39 AM
Looking Toward The High Knob Massif
University of Virginia's College In Wise
February 6, 2014 at 9:40 AM
Looking Toward The High Knob Massif
University of Virginia's College In Wise
February 6, 2014 at 9:41 AM
Looking Toward The High Knob Massif
University of Virginia's College In Wise
February 6, 2014 at 9:42 AM
Looking Toward The High Knob Massif
University of Virginia's College In Wise
February 6, 2014 at 9:43 AM
Looking Toward The High Knob Massif
University of Virginia's College In Wise
February 6, 2014 at 9:44 AM
Looking Toward The High Knob Massif
University of Virginia's College In Wise
February 6, 2014 at 9:45 AM
Looking Toward The High Knob Massif
University of Virginia's College In Wise
February 6, 2014 at 9:47 AM
Looking Toward The High Knob Massif
University of Virginia's College In Wise
February 6, 2014 at 9:48 AM
Looking Toward The High Knob Massif
University of Virginia's College In Wise
The view at top of the summit level,
seen near center of CAM views above,
became visible after cloud bases lifted.
Elevation 4189 feet
February 6, 2014 at 9:46 AM
Eagle Knob of High Knob Massif
Snow & Riming In The Communications Area
Many roads were slick during the morning
despite light snowfall amounts.
February 6, 2014 at 10:29 AM
Heading Toward Tacoma In Wise County
Slick Conditions Along State Route 706
February 6, 2014
Along the Virginia-Kentucky Statline
Rime & Snow Along State Route 160
This section is under construction. Check back for updates.
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