Roanokers didn’t have to dream of a white Christmas last Saturday morning as they awoke to a snow-scaped scene that even the old crooner Bing Crosby himself would have appreciated. It hasn’t snowed more than an inch on Christmas Day in Roanoke since 1969 so, after 41 years, many Roanokers (and certainly the sleigh riding youngsters) felt that the Valley was more than due. The snowfall was followed by temperatures in the 20s and some very strong lower level winds that lasted through Tuesday, causing drifting and the re-covering of some rural roadways. But Old Man Winter is finally planning on loosening his grip a bit on Friday and by Saturday the Roanoke Valley is expected to top out with a high near 60 degrees to start off 2011. But don’t bet that the old year’s final trend will last too long into the new . . . The weather, like life, has a way of changing fast . . . Happy New Year!
