Thursday, March 12, 2009

Overnight Update

Latest data and radar trends indicate the best chance of snow overnight through Friday morning to be across west-central Virginia. The Richmond metro will get only a very light wintry mix of rain and snow, with a transition to all rain by 10 AM. No travel problems are anticipated in central Virginia, as low temperatures are expected to range from 34 to 37 degrees.

Winter Weather Update

The latest data continues to point toward a rain/snow mix across central Virginia overnight through early Friday. Surface temperatures will remain a couple of degrees above freezing, so little to no accumulation is expected in the metro area. A winter weather advisory has been issued farther north and west where one to two inches of snow will be possible. The wintry mix in central Virginia will transition to all rain by late morning. I'll have an update later tonight when new data becomes available. Storm Team 6 Meteorologists Carrie Rose and Aaron Justus will be tracking the storm through the early morning hours on the air and on the web.

Winter Mix Possible

A winter mix of precipitation (primarily falling as a wet snow with some sleet mixed in) is possible late Thursday into Friday morning. The moisture that will feed this is currently surging through the Southern Plains and into the Mississippi Valley region Thursday morning. A winter mix is occurring through Oklahoma and Arkansas, and I expect that same mix to reach Central Virginia overnight into Friday morning.

Thanks to recent very warm temperatures in the 70's and low 80's, soil temperatures are pretty mild. This means that elevated, exposed surfaces will be the first to freeze Friday morning. Bridges and overpasses may develop some slick spots for a couple hours, before temperatures rise back above the freezing mark.

We will be updating you through Thursday with the latest on this storm's track and impact on Central Virginia.
--Carrie