STAUNTON, VA (Rocktown Now) — Staunton officially recorded six consecutive days in which temperatures failed to reach 32 degrees Fahrenheit, marking a rare cold streak in the city’s weather history. According to local records dating back to the 1890s, longer freeze streaks have occurred only 10 times.
The prolonged deep freeze placed significant strain on city infrastructure, particularly underground utilities. While snow crews worked to keep roads passable above ground, Staunton Utilities and Public Works crews responded to nine separate water main breaks caused by the extreme cold over the past week.
Despite the challenges, cleanup efforts are continuing as temperatures begin to moderate. Snow operations crews are actively scraping streets and pushing back snowbanks, with a priority on clearing school bus routes and bus stops to improve safety. Downtown areas remain a focus, particularly in tight corridors where accumulated snow has limited space to be relocated…