The National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for the Richmond region from midnight to 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Wind chills as low as 1 below are possible across the state.
"Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures," the weather service said.
A chance of snow and a low of 13 degrees are forecast overnight.
In response to records requests, officials said they would not disclose documents related to severance agreements, citing an exemption to Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act intended to protect “personnel information.”
The deep freeze is being felt across the southern half of the U.S.
A rare frigid storm charged through Texas and the northern Gulf Coast on Tuesday, blanketing New Orleans and Houston with snow that closed highways, grounded nearly all flights and canceled school for more than a million students more used to hurricane dismissals than snow days.
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The storm prompted the first ever blizzard warnings for several coastal counties near the Texas-Louisiana border, and snow plows were at the ready in the Florida Panhandle. Snow covered the white-sand beaches of normally sunny vacation spots, including Gulf Shores, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida. The heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain hitting parts of the Deep South came as a blast of Arctic air plunged much of the Midwest and the eastern U.S. into a deep freeze.
Nearly 2,000 flights to, from or within the U.S. were canceled Tuesday, with about 10,000 others delayed, according to online tracker FlightAware.com. Both Houston airports suspended flight operations starting Tuesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
From the archives: Sledding in Forest Hill Park
12-20-1945: When the snow flies -- Snow's the exception, not the rule, in Richmond, and the kids were hard at it yesterday. Some merry youngsters whisk down a slope in Forest Hill Park on their sleds.
Sleighs and the right kind of snow - maybe it wasn't the city's first snow, but it was the first one that produced enough of the white flakey stuff to be worthwhile - and Richmond youngsters made the most of it. The typical Sunday hillside scene, above, in Forest Hill Park, shows that the youngsters weren't the only ones who took advantage of the three- to four-inch fall. Some of the oldsters seem to be having just as much fun watching.
In January 1955, a snowy slope at Forest Hill Park in Richmond came to life on a cold afternoon. Sledders turned out after school and stayed late on hard-packed snow. Two days before, a snowfall that officially measured 7.6 inches had fallen – it was the most since 1948.
No school day becomes a good old golden play day. Scene in Forest Hill Park was typical of other play areas.
Line of sledders moves up hill for more coasting at Forest Hill Park
Sledders were in their glory at Forest Hill Park after over 10 inches of snow fell in Central Virginia 1/25/00
Makeshift sleds litter Forest Hill Park after this past weeks storms 2/2/00.
While sliding down a hill on his yellow disc in Forest Hill Park, minding his own business, Larry Capers Jr. was hit by other sledders who were sledding on a tire tube. Capers was not injured. On the tube are Mark Lawton (top), Mallory Self (in light coat), Michelle Lawton, 14 (left) and Tyler Lawton, 7. (Tyler and Michelle are Lawton's children).
Clayton Navarre,11, takes a spill while snowboarding at Richmond's Forest Hill Park.
Margaret Davenport,4, and her daddy, John, of Richmond arrive at Richmond's Forest Hill Park for a morning of sledding.
Bill MacMillan, seen here in 2004, had sledded in Forest Hill Park for most of his 75 years. He claims the running start is the key to a long ride.
Bill MacMillan has sledded in Forest Hill Park for most of his seventy-five years. He claims the running start is the key to a long ride.
On a visit to Forest Hill Park, Santa describes how high the snow gets at the North Pole. Anna Battisti (left) and Gabriella Battisti (far right, holding her cousin, Sofia Battisti, 16-months old) were surprised to see ol' Saint Nick in Richmond. He said he was looking for his reindeer.
Chance Gilmore gets some "air" while sledding at Forest Hill Park. Gilmore, from Myrtle Beach, is in Richmond visiting relatives.
Sam Davis grills hot dogs in Forest Hill Park. He and other family members went sledding, then ate in an oversized van parked nearby. Davis said he and family members went to Forest Hill Park "Just because it's snowing, and it's a chance for everybody to get out of the house, go sledding and throw snowballs."
Many discovered that sleds generally move faster with more weight while having fun in Forest Hill Park. From front: friends Peter Slag, Matt Whitley, Peter Askin, and John Surface enjoy the snow. They are on college break.
Sledders head toward the hills at Forest Hill Park.
Lyn Clarke goes sledding in Forest Hill Park.
Kareen Horton, 11, takes a spill while sledding at Forest Hill Park. Kareem joined other children who had the day off from school.
Malik Haskins (top), age 14, Brandon Holley (middle), age 14, and Daquane Banks (bottom), age 15, sled down a hill in Forest Hill Park Friday, December 17, 2010.
Malik Haskins (top), age 14, Brandon Holley (middle), age 14, and Daquane Banks (bottom), age 15, sled down a hill in Forest Hill Park Friday, December 17, 2010.
Daniel Dietz Sr. and his seven-year-old son Jackson Dietz sled down a hill in Forest Hill Park Friday, December 17, 2010.
(L-R) Siblings Autumn Howey, age 14, Apris Howey, age 14, and Amouri Howey, age 16, sled down a hill in Forest Hill Park Friday, December 17, 2010.
(L-R) Dwight Howey sleds down a hill in Forest Hill Park with his nephew Auston Howey, age 10, his niece Amouri Howey, age 16, and his nephew Aedon Howey, age 10, Friday, December 17, 2010.
A sledder climbs back up a hill in Forest Hill Park to sled some more Friday, December 17, 2010.
Six-year-old Daniel Dietz Jr. sleds down a hill in Forest Hill Park Friday, December 17, 2010.
Gryphin Kennedy, age 8, sleds down a hill in Forest Hill Park Friday, December 17, 2010.
At Forest Hill Park, some were out by mid-morning for a little sledding and skiing.
Tania Jones, 6, rides her Flexible Flyer at Forest Hill Park. Tania joined other children who had the day off from school.
Krista Latendresse, who runs a children's apparel business out of her Richmond home, had her hands full last week as her children August, 2, and Townes, 5, were both home because closures due to inclement weather."As a mom, I feel guilty that there is more I can do for them," she said. "I’m stressed because I have work to do to meet my customer’s needs." Krista Lantendresse said. Pictured here August gets a helping lift from his mother Krista during a day of fun at Forest Hill Park in Richmond Sun. Feb. 7, 2010
L-R, Bailey Reid, 3 yrs. old, her mother Lakeisha Reid, her brother Conner Reid, 4yrs. old and her father Stanley Reid enjoy Forest Hill Park in Richmond Sun. Feb. 7, 2010
William Peters, 15, soars after sledding over a mogul that he and his friends made at Forest Hill Park, Jan. 22, 2014.
Maria Epps treats a close friend's children to their very first snow and sled ride in Forest Hill Park, Jan. 22, 2014. Leo Groom, 5 (center) and his brother, Little Bear Groom, 6, recently moved from Texas to Richmond. The boys enjoyed the snow along with hundreds of others.
Karell Lucas-Hicks, 15, gets some air while snowboarding in Forest Hill Park, Jan. 22, 2014.
Amari Lane, 7, and his uncle Shea Battle of Richmond share laughs as they sled down at Forest Hill Park in Richmond on Wednesday, January 22, 2014.
Erin Van Jester of Richmond pulls her two children, Sullivan, 19 months, and Rogan, 5, as they head to their home after sledding at Forest Hill Park in Richmond on Wednesday, January 22, 2014.
"Cold!" Verity Jordan, 5, says after tasting snow as she and her father, Elliott of Richmond, sled at Forest Hill Park in Richmond on Wednesday, January 22, 2014.
Forest Hill Park is filled with sledders after a snow day in Richmond on Wednesday, January 22, 2014.
At Forest Hill Park, kids of all ages took to the hills with their sleds Friday morning. A snowman that sometimes got in the way of sledders was repositioned by Meredith Crider, 10 (at left of the giant snowball) and Ellie Duffey, 10. Feb. 14, 2014.
An estimated 500 flocked to Forest Hill Park for fun in the snow, Feb. 17, 2015.
Mayor Levar Stoney goes on his first ever sled ride at Forest Hill Park on Saturday Jan. 7, 2017.
Mayor Levar Stoney goes on his first ever sled ride at Forest Hill Park on Saturday Jan. 7, 2017.
Mayor Levar Stoney talks with Danny Sheperd and his son Mason, 10, at Forest Hill Park on Saturday Jan. 7, 2017.
Broken sleds from a weekend of sledding are dumped by a tree at Forest Hill Park on Monday Jan. 9, 2017.
Children sled as they take advantage of snow day school closed at Forest Hill Park in Richmond on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018.
After an exciting ride downhill, proving what goes down must come up, there's always that hill to climb at Forest Hill Park. After heavy snows closed down much of the area and residents were able to get out and enjoy the unusual snow event on Monday, December 10, 2018.
Sledders enjoy Forest Hill Park after heavy snows closed down much of the area and residents were able to get out and enjoy the unusual snow event on Monday, December 10, 2018.
Sarah Blom readies her son Oliver,2, for his first-ever sled outing at Forest Hill Park after heavy snows closed down much of the area and residents were able to get out and enjoy the unusual snow event on Monday, December 10, 2018.
Sarah Blom readies her son Oliver,2, for his first-ever sled outing at Forest Hill Park after heavy snows closed down much of the area and residents were able to get out and enjoy the unusual snow event on Monday, December 10, 2018.
Teryn Justice of Chesterfield and her daughter, Bella, 5, sled down at Forest Hill Park in Richmond on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018.
Forest Hill Park is crowded with sledders in Richmond on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018.
Stefanie Keys pulls her son, Tiberius Grieco, 3, for sledding at Forest Hill Park in Richmond on Dec. 10, 2018.
Olivia Delp, 8, goes head first down the sledding hill at Friends of Forest Hill Park in Richmond on Monday, January 3, 2022.
Families and friends hit the sledding hill at Friends of Forest Hill Park in Richmond on Monday, January 3, 2022.
Jaquan Fofana, 9, takes advantage of a snow day to enjoy the sledding hill at Friends of Forest Hill Park in Richmond on Monday, January 3, 2022.
Erin Delp and Dustin Klein hit the sledding hill at Friends of Forest Hill Park in Richmond on Monday, January 3, 2022.
Mathias Roussy, 15, shoots down the sledding hill at full speed at Friends of Forest Hill Park in Richmond on Monday, January 3, 2022.
Chris Clark and his child Rowan, 4, enjoy the sledding hill at Friends of Forest Hill Park in Richmond on Monday, January 3, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
