After contacting Professional Grounds, their representative said the crews have been working all night and with this ice it takes longer than expected. He said he has us high on his list and expects to be out here by early afternoon.
Update – January 25, 2026
Our area has received approximately 6–6 inches of snow followed by about 2 inches of sleet for a total of 8 to 10”. This snow-and-sleet combination is extremely heavy and is significantly slowing sidewalk and plowing operations. Even with trucks, plows must make narrow passes due to the weight of the accumulation.
Two inches of sleet has a water equivalent of at least 10 inches of snow, meaning our crews and all other contractors/VDOT are effectively clearing the equivalent of 17 inches of snow!
Most VDOT secondary roads are NOT plowed, which makes travel from point A to point B very difficult. Even the same property connected by a secondary road pose challenges and time delays. Many cars remain stuck on these roads and within neighborhoods.
Plowing and sidewalk operations will continue throughout the night. Residents are strongly encouraged to stay home. While conditions may appear to be only 4–5 inches of “snow”, the accumulation is highly compacted and extremely heavy.
VDOT, PGI, and all contractors need time, as snow and sleet are still accumulating. The winter storm is ongoing, it is not over and the precipitation has not stopped!!
More thorough cleanup of roads and sidewalks can occur once the storm has ended. For now, the priority is keeping routes passable for emergency vehicles.
Please ask residents to remain patient—there is nowhere to travel, and most businesses are closed. In the event of an emergency, contact emergency services and do not attempt to drive.
This process takes time, and the goal still remains to have all areas passable by tomorrow evening.
Update – January 25, 2026
Crews were dispatched overnight and will continue working their routes throughout the day. As forecasted by the National Weather Service, snow accumulated rapidly overnight, and many areas are now transitioning to heavy sleet (frozen ice pellets).
Please do not get a false sense of security by thinking, “It doesn’t look like much snow—I’ll be fine to go out.” Conditions are expected to worsen quickly.
The forecast calls for snow and sleet to transition to freezing rain later today. Sleet consists of frozen ice pellets that bounce when they hit the ground. Freezing rain, however, is rain that freezes instantly on contact due to the extremely cold ground.
Freezing rain is far worse than snow or sleet and is by far the most dangerous form of winter precipitation. It freezes on pavement, sidewalks, vehicles, and trees, turning everything into an ice rink. With temperatures around 16°F and very cold ground conditions, ice will form rapidly.
Do not travel. If the forecasted freezing rain occurs, travel may become incredibly dangerous and potentially impossible, and you could become stranded for hours.
Update – January 24, 2026
PGI Storm Plan
Plowing
We plan to commence plowing operations late Saturday night morning and will continue throughout the storm. Our goal is to ONLY keep roads passable for emergency vehicles ONLY.
Following the storm, we plan to take more time opening up roads and intersections all day Monday and into Tuesday cleaning things up. It is supposed to be snowing for over 36 hours making these an extremely long event. We need Time to work!
A few notes
Delays in services should be expected We may not be able to even get to your property if trees and powerlines are down or cars are stuck on roads. With heavy snow + freezing rain, tree damage may be catastrophic. Many roads may be closed or not plowed by VDOT making it impossible to even get our 4WD plow trucks to you.
Roads WILL be snow covered for a couple weeks, especially shady areas. It is going to stay below freezing for the next 14 days and the snow will not melt. It will turn to ice when driven and compacted upon and residents must understand roads will not be down to pavement. They will be snow/ice covered for many days. Snow contractor’s objective is to make roads passable. Getting them to bare pavement is not possible with temperatures this cold and accumulations this great.
Do not throw snow into streets, if we CAN plow it, it will go back in front of cars. If we CAN’T plow the snow, it will sit there until a skid loader is requested and arrives, which can’t be until roads are safe enough to tow it there.
It will be dangerously COLD-Do NOT TRAVEL and plan not to Travel until VDOT states roads are passable. If you get stranded in this extreme cold you could get hurt or worse. Seriously.
Sidewalks
We plan to begin snow operations during the day on Sunday and work ALL day. We will take a break Sunday night because of the dangerously cold temperatures to keep our crews safe. We will be back and work ALL day Monday. We will again take a break Monday night because of the extreme cold and be back on Tuesday to clean things up and finish. This ASSUMES we can get to your property to work. Our goal is to keep our people safe and get your sidewalks done.
What we need from you and your residents?
TIME-Again, huge events take time, please give us time. The snow will stop on Monday, but you will not be able to go places. ALL Contractors and VDOT need time. If you go somewhere Monday, you will get stuck
Please, please just get what you need today and tomorrow and stay home and be prepared to stay home through Tuesday at least.
It happens every storm, the snow stops and residents want to know where contractors are, what we are doing and why isn’t it done? The snow just stopped, ALL contractors and VDOT need time. We are working! IF your road is plowed others aren’t and you will get stuck. If you are emergency personnel, you must plan to get to where you need to be BEFORE the snow or have 4WD transportation set up to pick you up at a main road.
Update – January 23, 2026
⚠️ Winter Storm Watch – Important Community Notice
A major Winter Storm Watch has been issued for our area, beginning Saturday evening and continuing through Monday morning.
Forecasts are still developing, but meteorologists warn this storm could be historic, with potential impacts comparable to the most severe storms in decades.
In addition to heavy snow, there is a growing risk of prolonged freezing rain, which significantly increases the likelihood of power outages, downed trees, and hazardous roads.
Reminders for Residents During Heavy Snow Accumulation
- Roads aren’t wide enough. During snow evens residents get frustrated that the roads aren’t plowed wide enough. Please understand that snowplows push snow left and push snow right and create windrows/piles of snow on each side. We can’t push snow too wide as they would get super close to cars and or against cars. We must leave room between the car and the pile of snow so as not to damage cars.
- Why did they put the snow here and not there? Snowplows push snow left and push snow right and it falls off the end of the plow as it moves along. If we push it straight ahead 1’ become 2’, 2’ becomes 4’, 4’ become 6’ and then the truck can’t push it anymore. It must go off the left and right of plow blades for the truck to drive down the street. Piles of snow will be in front of driveways as that is what snowplows are designed to do. It can’t pick it up and carry it.
- Roads WILL be snow covered for many days, especially shady areas. It is going to stay below freezing for the next 14 days and the snow will not melt. It will turn to ice when driven and compacted upon and residents must understand roads will not be down to pavement. They will be snow/ice covered for many days. Snow contractors’ objective is to make roads passable. Getting them to bare pavement is not possible with temperatures this cold and accumulations this great.
- Do not throw snow back into streets. When cleaning off the cars do not throw snow into the center of the street. Put it in front of your parking space. We’ve had several residents decide to throw all their snow into the center of the road and it became too deep for a truck to plow. We had to bring in a skid loader and dig out the entire road several days after the storm.
- Extreme Cold. Temperatures will be in the low teens to near zero at night for many consecutive nights. When it is this cold Rock Salt doesn’t work well and is very slow which is why we add sand to add traction on the roads. They may be snow covered but the sand provides traction.
- Very Heavy Snow/Blizzard conditions. It may be snowing hard enough at times during the storm that we cannot travel safely and/or extremely poor visibility will prevent us (and other contractors, VDOT etc.) to even plow streets and may have to wait until conditions are safe enough to drive and plow safely. We must be able to see what we are doing.
- Delays in services should be expected. We may not be able to get to your neighborhood if VDOT has not plowed the streets leading to your communities as windrows at intersections can be several feet high OR cars are stuck at entrances to your neighborhood. VDOT stated secondary streets may not be plowed until Tuesday or Wednesday and we have to be able to drive down them to get to your neighborhood.
- Just because it stops snowing doesn’t mean their road will be immediately plowed. It’s supposed to snow for 36-48+ hours and will take us time to get everywhere. If your street is plowed others aren’t.
- DO NOT TRAVEL during the storm. A state of Emergency will be issued. If you drive and get stuck, you block roads for plow operators AND you can get in serious danger quickly if emergency vehicles can’t get to your car. With temperatures this cold frostbite is possible in as little as 15 minutes. It is dangerously cold! People will try to drive places, cars will get stuck, roads will be closed and we may not be able to get to certain neighborhoods until after cars are towed. Please do not be these people. It’s very dangerous and delays ALL contractors. IF you are emergency personnel, make plans to get to work before the storm (hotel, 4 WD) Don’t expect to be able to simply drive out of your neighborhood to work. If your street is plowed others aren’t.
- PLEASE don’t let kids build snow forts in the giant snow piles near streets or play in the streets. They can build forts in the front yard, backyard anywhere else but not AT or IN the street. Kids want to make forts and play, we get it, but this is obviously extremely dangerous with trucks driving around plowing snow and pushing snow into these piles.
- This storm is now classified as a snow emergency. Only Emergency Vehicles AND 4WD vehicles are allowed on the roads during the storm until VDOT has plowed and lifted the emergency.
Residents should get what they need by Saturday afternoon as travel will be extremely difficult if not impossible for SEVERAL Days. Be prepared to stay home through Wednesday
Again, from the NWS..
“Persons should consider delaying all travel. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution. Consider taking a winterstorm kit along with you, including such items as tire chains, booster cables, flashlight, shovel, blankets and extra clothing. Also take water, a first aid kit, and anything else that would help you survive in case you become stranded.
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Thank you!
Your Friends at Professional Grounds, Inc.
