Posted 9 AM 1/7/25 — ROANOKE, Va. (WFIR) – Appalachian Power crews are braving bitter cold and icy roads Tuesday as they work to restore electricity to approximately 75,600 customers left without power by Winter Storm Blair. Additional outages occurred overnight as accumulating ice brought down tree limbs onto power lines.
As of 9 a.m., Virginia has the highest number of outages, with 41,850 affected customers, while 33,750 customers in West Virginia remain without power. The areas most impacted in Virginia include Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, Franklin, and Roanoke counties. In West Virginia, Lincoln, Clay, Mercer, Summers, and Wayne counties reported the heaviest damage.
Restoration timeline
Appalachian Power estimates service will be restored to 90% of affected customers by the following times:
- Virginia
- Floyd: 11 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7
- Bluefield, Christiansburg, Glen Lyn, Woodlawn, Roanoke, Fieldale, and Stuart: 11 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8
- Lovingston, Lynchburg, Rocky Mount, and Moneta: 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9
- West Virginia
- Milton and Hamlin: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7
- Charleston, Glasgow, Walgrove, Beckley, Hico, Pineville, Logan, Madison, and Williamson: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8
Challenges for crews
Approximately 5,500 workers, including crews from AEP Ohio, Indiana & Michigan Power, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina, are assisting with restoration efforts. Hazardous road conditions and freezing temperatures are delaying travel and repair work.
Appalachian Power’s generation facilities remain operational despite the extreme weather. The company’s hydroelectric plants may need to increase power generation to ensure the stability of the regional electric grid, which could cause fluctuating river levels later this week.
Customer safety and support
Customers are reminded to stay away from downed power lines and debris near them. Generators should be refueled and operated outdoors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. To avoid overloading circuits during restoration, customers are advised to keep large appliances off until an hour after power is restored.
Outage alerts and a real-time outage map are available on Appalachian Power’s website. For additional safety tips and energy-saving advice during low temperatures, visit the company’s resource pages.
Posted 1/7/24 — ROANOKE, Va. – Appalachian Power has restored power to nearly a quarter of the 100,500 customers who experienced outages at the peak of Winter Storm Blair earlier today. Despite hazardous road conditions caused by freezing rain, snow, and ice, the company reports that approximately 73,400 customers remain without power as of 7 p.m.
Crews are continuing restoration efforts tonight in areas where conditions are safe to work, though additional outages are possible due to heavy ice accumulation on power lines and trees.
Outages by the numbers
Currently, 38,200 customers in Virginia and 35,200 in West Virginia remain without electricity. The hardest-hit areas include:
- Virginia: Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, and Franklin counties.
- West Virginia: Lincoln, Clay, Mercer, Summers, and Wayne counties.
Restoration efforts are focused on repairing the largest outages first. Appalachian Power anticipates restoring service to 90% or more of customers in most affected areas by midweek. Estimated times of restoration (ETRs) for some locations are:
Virginia ETRs:
- Floyd: 629 customers by 11 p.m., Jan. 7.
- Bluefield: 15,090 customers by 11 p.m., Jan. 8.
- Roanoke: 3,633 customers by 11 p.m., Jan. 8.
- Lynchburg: 9,875 customers by 6 p.m., Jan. 9.
- Moneta: 7,792 customers by 6 p.m., Jan. 9.
West Virginia ETRs:
- Wayne: 1,236 customers by 9 p.m., Jan. 6.
- Hamlin: 1,978 customers by 6 p.m., Jan. 7.
- Charleston: 4,930 customers by 8 p.m., Jan. 8.
- Beckley: 3,101 customers by 8 p.m., Jan. 8.
Customers can view the latest updates on outages and restoration times by visiting Appalachian Power’s outage map.
Challenges and restoration efforts
More than 5,500 personnel are currently working to restore power. Crews include Appalachian Power employees, contractors, and mutual aid workers from states including Ohio, Indiana, Alabama, and the Carolinas.
Hazardous road conditions continue to delay travel for crews in some areas, particularly where downed trees and debris are blocking access to repair sites. The company’s Storm Operations Team is working closely with local and state officials to coordinate restoration efforts.
Safety tips for residents
Residents are urged to take precautions while crews work to restore power:
- Stay at least 10 feet away from downed power lines and avoid removing debris near them.
- Unplug major appliances to prevent damage when power is restored.
- Use generators only in well-ventilated areas, and never burn charcoal indoors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Turn off electric heaters and water heaters during outages to reduce strain on the system when power is restored.
Weather outlook and hydro operations
With temperatures expected to remain below freezing this week, Appalachian Power may increase power generation at its hydroelectric plants to support the regional grid. Water levels on the New and Roanoke rivers are likely to rise rapidly starting Wednesday, Jan. 8, and could fluctuate throughout the week. Recreational users downstream of Claytor and Leesville dams are advised to exercise caution.
Extreme cold may also create additional challenges for power restoration. In some cases, large outages must be restored in smaller groups to prevent overloading the system. Customers are encouraged to assist by turning off large electric appliances for 15 minutes after power is restored.
Stay informed
- For specific outage alerts, customers can sign up for Appalachian Power notifications via text or email.
- Real-time updates on outages and ETRs are available on Appalachian Power’s outage map.
Posted 1/6/24 — ROANOKE, Va. – Winter storm Blair has left its mark across the region, bringing freezing rain, snow, and ice that have caused widespread power outages and hazardous road conditions. Both Appalachian Power and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are working tirelessly to address the storm’s aftermath.
Power outages and restoration efforts
Appalachian Power reports that approximately 98,475 customers remain without power as of 2 p.m. Monday, with the hardest-hit areas including Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, and Franklin counties in Virginia, as well as Lincoln, Clay, Mercer, Summers, and Wayne counties in West Virginia. While the peak number of outages reached over 100,500 earlier today, crews are making progress.
More than 5,500 personnel, including mutual aid crews from neighboring states, are working to restore power across the affected regions. Restoration efforts prioritize critical infrastructure such as hospitals and emergency services before moving to areas with the largest number of outages. Appalachian Power expects most customers to have power restored by the middle of the week, though estimated restoration times vary by location.
In Virginia, communities like Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Rocky Mount may not see full restoration until late Wednesday or Thursday. West Virginia towns, including Charleston, Logan, and Beckley, have similar timelines. For detailed outage updates, customers can visit Appalachian Power’s outage map.
Road conditions and safety
VDOT crews continue to clear and treat roads throughout the Salem District, which includes the counties of Bedford, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, and Roanoke. However, progress has been slowed by downed trees, debris, and additional precipitation expected this afternoon and evening.
Equipment operators are working to make secondary roads and neighborhood streets passable, but low temperatures are causing refreezing, leaving many surfaces slick and hazardous. Commuters are urged to use extreme caution, especially on secondary and untreated roads. VDOT reminds travelers not to expect bare pavement until temperatures rise above freezing later this week.
Motorists can report road hazards, such as debris or fallen trees, by calling VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-367-ROAD (7623). Real-time updates on road conditions are available through VDOT’s 511 mobile app.
Safety tips for residents
Authorities are urging residents to stay safe and prepared during this challenging time. Here are a few key tips:
- Avoid downed power lines and report them immediately to authorities.
- Use generators and fuel-powered devices only in well-ventilated areas to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Unplug major appliances to prevent damage when power is restored.
- On the roads, drive slowly, avoid sudden movements, and keep an emergency kit in your vehicle.
Weather outlook
Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing for much of the week, with additional precipitation likely. VDOT warns that wet or slushy roads may freeze overnight, creating black ice and making travel dangerous.
Appalachian Power is also increasing power generation at its hydroelectric facilities to support the regional electric grid, which may cause water levels on the New and Roanoke rivers to rise rapidly starting Wednesday, Jan. 8. Recreational users are advised to exercise caution.
