Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Overnight Update

As of 10 PM, the temperature in Richmond was 36 degrees, and had been 36 degrees for the past 8 straight hours. A light northerly wind was keeping the temperature/moisture steady, but with winds slowly shifting to the east and southeast by morning, temperatures/moisture will increase slightly. Fog will be likely, as higher dew point air is advected into central Virginia from the Chesapeake. Temperatures will remain close to freezing across only the far northern and western parts of Virginia, with most advisories set to expire by around midnight. Periods of rain will continue across the entire area through early afternoon Wednesday, with the rain tapering off toward late afternoon.

Zach

Tuesday Morning Update

Light rain continues to move into Virginia Tuesday morning. Temperatures in Central Virginia this morning are safely above freezing, preventing an icing threat in the Richmond Metro area. However, Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for far western and northern parts of Virginia Tuesday, including Charlottesville, where temperatures are falling to freezing. Freezing rain and sleet are already occurring in the higher elevations, with light ice accumulations up to a tenth of an inch expected, mainly on elevated surfaces. Some slick spots on roads can also be expected. Temperatures in the warned region will dip to around freezing by late morning and linger there into the afternoon.

Temperatures statewide are expected to gradually rise through Tuesday evening and overnight, ending the freezing rain threat by early Wednesday. However, heavy rainfall is expected by late Tuesday and overnight into early Wednesday in the southern half of Virginia, which may cause some flooding in prone areas.

This slow-moving storm system will exit the region Wednesday evening, but snow showers are possible on the backside of the low by Thursday in Central Virginia.

We will post updates online as needed, keeping you ahead of the storm.
--Carrie