Strong winds howl through Star City

Wind knocks out power to 19,000+

High winds rock the NRV

 

Roanokers bundle up as 2008 makes a roaring exit from the Star City.

“It’s pretty windy today,“ Ken Murrow said.

The day started off messy in in the Raleigh Court area as the wind knocked over garbage cans and scattered trash into the streets.

Meanwhile, power companies worked quickly, putting up power lines almost as fast as they came down.

But Roanoke wasn’t the only place dealing with the wind.

In Montvale fire crews were called to a piece of land off Goose Creek Valley Road around midday.  The owner says a downed power line sparked a brush fire.  It was a tough battle to fight as flames and smoke changed directions without warning.

On I-81, tractor trailer drivers struggled to keep it between the lines.  Gordon Neal spent the day on the road.

“It’s pretty rough,” Neal said.  “When you’re going around a left hand curve and you’re still steering right to stay on the road, that doesn’t help anything.  It’s just a constant fight.“

On the streets of Roanoke, people scampered to get in buildings as they deal with the wind and the bitter cold.

On the top of Mill Mountain the wind gusted over 60 miles an hour.

“It’s absolutely freezing up here.  It’s really windy, really blustery, very cold winter’s day,“ Fionn Malone said.

Not everyone was complaining.

“It’s great, so refreshing.  I don’t think I’ve felt this kind of cold, fresh air in a long time,“ Jenny Turpin said.

“This is just a nice end of the year,” Leslie Weaver said.

But don’t expect it to hang around, because as 2008 blew out like a lion, our meteorologists say 2009 will ring in like a lamb.