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Q & A: Patrick Rockey answers your winter storm questions

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Winter weather is approaching Hampton Roads on Tuesday, and NewsChannel 3 is taking action to make sure you’re prepared.

Chief Meteorologist Patrick Rockey is taking your winter weather questions on his Facebook page.

Q. Why are totals so different from one station to the next?
A. All stations employ their own teams of meteorologists who make their own forecasts.

Q. How much snow can we expect here in Virginia Beach?
A. We are expecting 1 to 2 inches of snow in Virginia Beach. I would expect the lesser totals closer to the water.

Q. What’s the best thing to put on icy steps for your pets to go outside?
A. A lot of people swear by kitty litter.

Q. Patrick, my house is excited about seeing a bit of snow. We are in Grandy, North Carolina, very close to the Currituck sound. What are our chances of seeing some beautiful white flakes falling from the sky?
A. I think it is going to take a while to get to your neighborhood, but you could still see several inches of snow there.

Q. How much for Smithfield?
A. Right now it’s looking like Smithfield could see 1 to 3 inches of snow.

Q. Not sure how much Ahoskie will get and when but what will the roads be like Wed.?
A. You may not get a huge amount of accumulation in Ahoskie. Maybe an inch or two. I think the roads will be pretty nasty on Wednesday morning because the temperatures will be so cold.

Q. When would be the best time to put down rock salt on my porch/ walkway. I live in Virginia Beach right off of US 13.
A. It looks like this will start off with rain, so any salt could get washed away. I’d wait until after the rain changes to snow.

Q. Is Manteo looking to get any snow or are we just looking at rain?
A. It does look like you could see some snow develop tomorrow late afternoon or evening. I am not expecting much if anything in the way of accumulation in Manteo.

Q. In Hampton should we dress the kids in snow caps and gloves and or snow boots?
A. The kids will definitely need rain gear. The storm will start off with rain tomorrow morning, change over to snow in the afternoon, and then it will get awfully cold and windy tomorrow night.

Q. I see Elizabeth City is in the area where 1/2 to 1 inch of snow is possible. What’s the likelihood this could increase going into Tuesday?
A. If the storm starts moving faster than expected, that is certainly possible. Right now, it looks like whatever does fall will stick around because of the plunging temperatures.

Q. How many inches of snow will Williamsburg get and will James City County have school tomorrow?
A. We are expecting up to 6 inches of snow in parts of James City County. I can’t speak for the school systems, but we will certainly let you know as soon as we hear something.

Q. I live in Hampton and work in Chesapeake. How do you think the MM (Monitor Merrimac) will be early Wednesday morning?
A. With temperatures dropping, I do expect roads to be icy on Wednesday morning. However, I am sure that the crews will be focusing a lot on the big crossings like the Monitor Merrimac. Be careful.

Q. I commute to ODU from Churchland section of Portsmouth. I have class until 7 pm. How bad will the Midtown Tunnel be around 7, and do you think ODU be canceling tomorrow evening class?
A. Because of the timing of this storm, I would not be surprised at all if classes were cancelled. Of course we will let you know as soon as we hear something.

Q. Will 23188 get snow at 10 or rain and when will the rain stop and the snow start and will it stick
A. It looks like things will start as a rain/snow mix around mid morning tomorrow before changing over to all snow We could see up to 6 inches in your neighborhood.

Q. How much do u think Yorktown and Kilmarnock will get in snow.
A. It looks like we’ll see at least 3 to 4 inches in both communities.

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