Friday, March 13, 2009

Much-Needed Rain Headed This Way

Scattered light to moderate rain will continue overnight, with temperatures remaining in the mid 30s. Temperatures in the higher elevations of Nelson, Amherst, Augusta, and Rockbridge counties will fall very close to or just below freezing, allowing a light coating of ice to develop. A freezing rain advisory is in effect for these areas until 10 AM Saturday. A steady soaking rain is expected Saturday in central Virginia, especially in the afternoon and early evening hours. Most of central Virginia will receive at least a half an inch of rain, with several areas seeing more than an inch. The rain will become more scattered in nature on Sunday, making it the better of the two weekend days to do any outdoor activities.

Slow Transition to Rain Continues

Rain will continue to be mixed with sleet and snow through the early afternoon, especially along and north of I-64.  Another round of light precipitation was moving into the western communities of the Richmond metro area at 1 PM.  Surface temperatures are ranging from 3 to 5 degrees above freezing, so only a brief and very light accumulation on grassy surfaces will be possible.  All rain is expected by later this afternoon.

Light Snow Continues Northern Half VA

Light snow continues this Friday morning in the northern half of Virginia, but coverage is becoming scattered and increasingly light. I also expect most of the snow to change over to all rain by early afternoon. Surface temperatures continue to remain above freezing, so no icing on roadways is occuring. Some grassy surfaces have received a dusting of light snow this morning, but this will melt through the next few hours as falling snow increasingly mixes with and completely changes over to rain by early afternoon.
--Carrie

Snow On Grassy Surfaces

Because surface temperatures remained above freezing in most of Central Virginia Friday morning, snow was not able to accumulate. However, there has been a light dusting on some grassy surfaces from the morning snow. This will be melting quickly over the next several hours, but here are a few shots taken from viewer Misty!




Friday Morning Update 8:06 a.m.

Sleet is beginning to mix with the light snow here at CBS 6 on West Broad Street in Richmond. I expect this trend to gradually shift North through the morning, with mostly sleet/rain by Noon, and all rain through the afternoon in most of Central Virginia.

Surface temperatures have remained above freezing everywhere, except for around Charlottesville where the temperature is 32 degrees. Some slick spots may be developing on the roads there.

Accumulations continue to be light on grassy surfaces, and will melt as the snow changes to rain.
--Carrie

Friday Morning Update 7:03 a.m.

Light to moderate snow continues to fall this morning across the Northern half of the Commonwealth, but temperatures in most places are above freezing. Snow is only accumulating on grassy surfaces, but will all melt later this morning as the snow gradually transitions to rain through the afternoon. Roads are only wet, and no icy patches are expected in the Richmond Metro Area. The only part of the region that may have some slick spots is around Charlottesville, where the temperature has fallen to freezing.

Snowfall reports coming to us are pretty light. You have to go to far West-Central Virginia to get one to two inches of accumulation.
--Carrie

Friday Morning Update 6:03 a.m.

Snow reports coming in this morning from Weather Watchers indicate up to 2" of snow on grassy surfaces in far West-Central Virginia Northwest of Charlottesville. Moderate snowfall at 6 a.m. is also accumulating on grassy surfaces in the Northern Neck at Newland, but the surface temperature is 33 degrees preventing icing on roads. At Locust Grove in North-Central Virginia, a rain/snow mix is falling, and the surface temperature is 36 degrees.
--Carrie

Friday Morning Update 5:33 a.m.

The light winter mix continues at this time across much of Central Virginia. The transition zone from just rain to the mix is south of the Richmond Metro Area, encompassing the entire Metro in a light rain/snow/sleet mix at this time. Temperatures remain above freezing, so roads are not icy this morning, nor do I expect them to become icy. Please use the same caution you would when driving on wet roads in rainfall.

Light snow is being reported from Charlottesville down I-64 toward Richmond, and areas to the North and East into the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck. However, most of this will melt this morning.
--Carrie

Friday Morning Update 4:45 a.m.

A light winter mix is moving through Central Virginia early this Friday morning. A mix of sleet, snow, and rain is currently affecting the Richmond Metro Area, but no icy spots are expected to develop this morning as temperatures will remain above freezing here. Also, temperatures will remain above freezing in much of Central Virginia this morning. Only west-central parts of the Commonwealth are under a Winter Weather Advisory until Noon for snowfall accumulating up to two inches.

I expect the winter mix to become primarily a sleet/rain mix by mid-day and early afternoon, transitioning over to all rain by late afternoon Friday.

Meteorologist Aaron Justus is in with me this morning, and you can chat live with him on our CBS 6 Storm Blog!
--Carrie