Winds Weakening

Now that the sun is down, winds have become less gusty. This trend will continue into tonight...midnight winds will be 10 to 15 mph, then 5 to 10 mph by tomorrow morning. Highest gust in Richmond was 44 mph recorded earlier this afternoon!

Most of the flurries have also exited the area and we will have mainly clear skies for the rest of tonight.

Isolated Snow Showers In The Area

A few pockets of flurries have been popping up across the area. Temperatures are well above freezing, so this is all melting on impact. The chance for flurries will quickly diminish after sunset.

Here is some video of some snow captured on cell phone by Jamie Buckmaster in Chesterfield. Thanks for sending it in!

Damaging Winds Possible Today

(Updated Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at 10:32 a.m.)

A Wind Advisory is in effect until 10 p.m. Wednesday for all of Central Virginia. Winds will continue to increase in speed late Wednesday morning, with gusts up to 50+ at times through the day. Sustained winds will be from the West to Northwest at 30 to 40 mph. These winds will be strong enough to cause some power outages and make driving difficult at times. Secure any loose or lightweight items outdoors, including garbage cans, remaining Christmas decorations, and patio furniture. Stay with CBS 6, we'll keep you ahead of the storm.

A list of counties affected can be found here: http://www.wtvr.com/global/weatheralerts.asp?CountyID=cid2949321

--Carrie



In other weather news...

If you can brave the blustery winds this evening, step outside and look Southwest at sunset for the waxing crescent Moon and the planet Venus, which will appear as a bright dot just below the Moon. The map to the left shows what other stellar objects will be in your view (image SpaceWeather.com).

Bundle up if you are heading outside to check out the Moon and Venus, or to watch the ball rise in Carytown tonight. Temperatures will be in the 20's at Midnight. Happy New Year!
--Carrie

Bugs and Meteors

The following is an e-mail from a viewer with my response:

Hello,

My name is Martha and about 5:40 p.m. today, December 21, I went outside and something caught my eye in the sky. I quickly looked up and there was a small ball of fire in the northern sky which raced across for about 2 seconds and then disintegrated. I have seen shooting stars and this was nothing like it. It was actually on fire. I live in Ophelia, about 6 miles from Reedville, where the Potomac and the Chesapeake Bay meet. Could you tell me, if you know, what that could have possibly been? Thank you.

Martha A.
Ophelia, Va

Hi Martha! What you saw is most likely what is called an “earthgrazer”. It’s basically a meteor that just skims the earth’s atmosphere and causes a long, brilliant trail across the sky. Sometimes the smoke trail will last a few seconds after the meteor has passed. The earthgrazer meteors (shooting stars) occur early in the evening when our direction as we travel through space is sideways.

Think of it this way: A meteor is caused by intense frictional heating of the atmosphere as debris enters at a high rate of speed and burns up. The earth is flying through space, and our atmosphere is encountering debris all the time. Pretend for a moment that the earth is a car and the sky overhead is a windshield. When the sun sets, we are looking out the side window of the car, with the front windshield to the east. As the night wears on, the earth rotates in such a way that the front windshield is overhead around dawn. Now pretend the debris that enters the atmosphere are bugs hitting the imaginary windshield. If we are looking out the side window at sunset, as you were when you saw the earthgrazer, the bug would have just barely skimmed the glass and made a long streak down the window. If you had seen the same bug strike the windshield around sunrise the next morning, the streak would have been brighter but much shorter, as you would have been looking out the front window of our imaginary car. Hope this analogy helps, and I’m glad you got to see an earthgrazer!





Zach

Weekend Weather Wrap-up

Three storm systems tracking along the northern border of the U.S. caused everything from damaging winds, to snow, and heavy rain this weekend. The first storm to mention is the same system that brought gusty winds to Virginia Sunday and scattered light rain showers continuing into Monday morning. But farther to our north, this system disrupted flights in the Northeast with gusty winds up to 74 mph. Before the front moved through Virginia, near-record highs occurred in many locations. Richmond's Sunday high was 74 degrees, just three degrees short of the record high for December 28 of 77 in 1984.

The next system on the map moved through Wyoming and Montana, with gusts up to 71 mph at Bordeaux, WY, 61 mph at Arlington, WY, and 60 mph at Miles City, MT. This small system is moving through the Dakotas Monday morning, bringing a light snowfall of a few inches.

The last storm system in the country right now is moving into the Pacific Northwest, and it has produced impressive rainfall totals so far. Here are some of the totals late Saturday into Sunday:
3.5” rain in 6 hours at Obrien, OR
3.2” rain in 9 hours at Powers, OR
2.9” rain in 12 hours at Brookings, OR
3.3” rain in 23 hours at Myrtle Point, OR
2.3” rain in 24 hours at Scottsburg, OR

This storm system will approach the East coast by New Year’s Eve, and will bring us cooler weather in time for New Year’s Day. At most, this system may squeeze out some flurries in the Virginia mountains west.

The next storm system to bring us a chance of rain will follow quickly on the heels of the previous one, bringing us a decent chance for rain and possibly a wintry mix on Friday.
--Carrie

Patchy fog Sunday morning

(Updated Sunday afternoon)
A Dense Fog Advisory was in effect for parts of south-central and southeast Virginia Sunday morning until 8 a.m. Air temperatures and dew point temperatures were very close to each other this morning, which put relative humidity values in the 90% range. Patchy fog also occurred in the Richmond area. Winds increased in speed by mid-morning, though, which helped to mix the air near the surface and disperse the fog. Drizzle and light rain showers will continue to be possible today, but chances in Richmond are low through the afternoon.

High temperatures today will climb to the upper 60’s and low 70’s in Central Virginia before the cold front passes tonight. Average highs for late December are in the mid to upper 40’s. The record high for December 28 in Richmond is 77 from 1984, so today’s high will be on the upper end of our range of recorded temperatures in late December.

This unseasonably warm weather will end with the frontal passage, putting our temperatures back closer to average levels into New Year’s Eve.
--Carrie

La Nina Coming Back? Potential Impacts Discussed.

I want to preface this blog entry with the fact that I am obsessed with long range forecasting. So many variables can impact a long range or seasonal forecast, it is truly mind-boggling at times. It's a new frontier in the world of meteorology...one that fascinates me.

Ok, now let's talk about the past. In late November and very early December, we were stuck in a "northwest flow" weather pattern. Storms moved into our area from central Canada. These "clipper" type of storms brought in cold air from the north, which is why we saw such a prolonged period of cool weather. In addition, these types of storms will bring only small amounts of rain or snow (occasionally there are exceptions).

We then saw an abrupt change in the pattern by the middle of this month and storms were moving in from the southwest - consequently named "southwest flow". This type of pattern yielded warmer and wetter than normal conditions.

Looking at the latest data, it looks like we are going to see the weather pattern switch back to what we saw in late November. Here is a map of the current jet stream pattern:



Notice the dip, or trough, in the jet over the western half of the U.S. and a bulge, or ridge, over the east coast. This is why we will see temps surge to near 70 tomorrow. We also have a chance for rain in the afternoon.

Look how the pattern changes by mid-January:



Now the trough is over the east coast...a pattern very similar to late November. If this forecast holds true, then temperatures will be at or below normal for the first half of the month (normal high is in the mid 40s). We could also see some snow return to the area...of course, it's still way to early to pinpoint when and how much.

This pattern may not hold up long though. Latest data in the Pacific Ocean is indicating that La Nina may soon return. La Nina is a cold ocean current off the coast of South America. In the animation below, you can spot the La Nina from last winter (far right center of image). There was also a weak El Nino (warm current) around summertime as well.



La Nina in the wintertime will typically bring warmer than normal temperatures (depicted by the first map below) with below average precipitation (second map).





This is still very far away, but will be interesting to watch develop. I will be tracking it closely and of course have more updates later!

-Aaron-

Rain Friday afternoon with more possible this weekend

Rain moving through Central Virginia Friday afternoon will taper off through the early evening hours, and be gone by midnight. Skies will remain mostly cloudy overnight, though, and temperatures will hold nearly steady in the low 40’s all night. Winds will remain from the south through the next 24 hours, and that will assist in ushering warmer air back into the state for Saturday, when highs should rebound into the upper 50’s and 60’s. There will be a slight chance for isolated showers in the state Saturday and again Sunday morning, but the highest chances will come with the next storm system expected to move through Sunday night.

This approaching storm system is the same one that brought record-setting snow to the Western U.S. on Christmas Day. Lake Tahoe, California had two feet of snow on Christmas, putting their two-week snow total at 10 feet. In fact, even Las Vegas, Nevada had a “White Christmas” with snowfall around 10 p.m. local time on December 25. This makes only three years on record for a Vegas Christmas snowfall: 2008, 1988, and 1941. This is also the fourth calendar day in December with snow recorded in Las Vegas, tying December 1967 for the most December snow days.

--Carrie

Isolated Showers Possible

Temperatures have luckily warmed up into the upper 30s and lower 40s across the entire area, so roads should be fine for the rest of today and tonight. Isolated showers will be possible, but today won't be a complete washout if you plan on being outside shopping today.

Light Rain Developing To The South

Light rain is now moving through Charlotte and Lunenburg counties. This batch of rain is moving to the east and will affect Dinwiddie, Brunswick, and Greensville counties. Temperatures are still hovering around the freezing mark, so some slick spots could develop, especially on bridges and overpasses. I just checked road conditions across the state, and luckily there are currently no hazards. I will have another update in the next hour.

Holiday Temperature Roller Coaster

Christmas week has been a bit of a temperature roller coaster for Central Virginia as the active weather pattern in the U.S. continues to bring systems through the region in rapid succession. Here is the temperature summary for this week in Richmond:

Sunday, December 21: Low 33, High 49, 0.36” Rain.
Monday, December 22: Low 21, High 32.
Tuesday, December 23: Low 17, High 37.
Wednesday, December 24: Low 35, High 65, 0.02” Rain.
Thursday, December 25: Low 50, High 63.

Christmas Day in Central Virginia turned out to be a sunny, gorgeous day with clear-blue skies and rain moving out of the area well before sunrise. The high temperature of 63 degrees today actually occurred around midnight, but after falling to 50 degrees at sunrise, afternoon temperatures were able to climb back up to 60 degrees in the sunshine. I expect a new low temperature will be set for today just before midnight. High pressure will settle over Virginia with mostly clear skies overnight into Friday morning, which will make for a colder Friday morning around freezing.

The temperature roller coaster will continue Saturday, when a warm front will lift back North into the state, upping highs back to the 60s. Another round of rain is also likely as the next storm system approaches Sunday.

In one week, Richmond will have seen a temperature spread of 49 degrees, from 17 degrees Tuesday all the way up to a forecast 66 degrees Saturday.

--Carrie

Winter Weather Mess Well North of Virginia

Southerly winds returned Tuesday, ushering warmer air back into Central Virginia before a storm system began tracking through the East. This storm system is yet another in a series of record-setting winter weather storms to move through the Midwest and Northeast in the past couple of weeks. Early Wednesday morning, freezing rain and a wintry mix were affecting the Northeast U.S., with rain showers moving through Central Virginia. It was the southerly wind that ushered in warmer temperatures and protected Central Virginia from a freezing rain threat Wednesday morning. Rain chances will increase overnight into early Christmas Morning as the cold front moves through Virginia, but most of the rain will move southeast by late Christmas Morning.

With the rain and winter weather in the Northeast, and also on the West Coast, you may need to check travel information if you plan to fly the next several days. You can get updates on airport delays at this link: http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/plaintext.html

--Carrie

Winter Weather Advisory North & West

A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for areas near and west of Charlottesville and all along I-81. This also includes Buckingham and Appomatox counties in central VA and is in effect until 4 AM.



Temperatures continue to hover around freezing across the state. In addition, isolated light showers or even sprinkles have developed. Once on the ground, the rain could freeze and cause some slick spots on roads this evening and into early tonight - especially on bridges and overpasses. Here is a map to track temperatures (it will continually update through the night).



There is also a Winter Weather Advisory from Fredericksburg northward into D.C. and is in effect until 10 AM for the same reasons stated above. Use extreme caution if traveling north on I-95 this evening and tonight!

Luckily I'm expecting temperatures to hold steady for the next couple hours in central Virginia. Temps will then begin to rise after midnight, so that the threat for slick spots will quickly diminish.

The Ghosts of Christmas Past and Christmas Yet to Come

Most of Central Virginia bottomed out in the teens Tuesday morning, thanks to clear skies, cold and dry Arctic air, and calm winds overnight. However, this cold will not linger past Tuesday. High pressure currently over the East-central coast will move out to sea, allowing our winds to return to the South by Tuesday afternoon. This will usher in warmer air from the south at the same time as an approaching low pressure system tracks north of Virginia.

This storm system is yet another in a series of record-setting winter weather storms to move through the Midwest and Northeast in the past couple of weeks. But Central Virginia will escape yet again the snow associated with this system. This does beg the question, though, of when was the last time Richmond had a White Christmas?

Well, that all depends on your definition of a “White Christmas!” If you are satisfied with merely getting snow flurries and a light dusting on Christmas Day, then the last time that happened in Richmond was in 1993. Light snow showers started around mid-day and continued through the afternoon, accumulating about a tenth of an inch of snow. The last time before 1993 there was a light snowfall was 1985.

But, if you want a more “legitimate” White Christmas, the last time at least one inch of snow fell on Christmas Day in Richmond was in 1981, later in the day. The last time kids could wake up to an inch of snow on the ground Christmas Morning was 1966.

It has been a hundred years since the greatest Christmas Morning snow depth in Richmond. Seven inches of snow blanketed Richmond Christmas Morning in 1908. Several years later in 1914, it snowed 5.4 inches in Richmond on Christmas Day.

Snow aside, the coldest Christmas Day was in 1983, when the high temperature in Richmond was only 14 degrees, with a low of just three degrees.

We do remain in a very active weather pattern, however, and our next storm system will track just to our north Christmas Eve and Day, bringing a decent chance for rain Wednesday and Thursday. Richmond will be too warm for snowfall, but there may be some flurries in the western parts of the state, especially in the mountains, before this system moves out.

--Carrie

Arctic air settling in over Virginia

The latest in a series of storm systems tracking through the Midwest and Northeast has brought cold, Arctic air to Central Virginia Monday. The front that moved through Sunday has made it to southern Florida Monday morning. Cold, high pressure is settling in over the Eastern U.S. Monday in the wake of the low pressure system exiting north of Maine.

This air now in place is dry and Arctic in origin, passing over plenty of snowpack to Virginia’s northwest. This means that the air does not modify too much on its way south toward Central Virginia. Low temperatures Monday morning were in the teens and low twenties, with a brisk Northwest wind at 10-20 mph making it feel like it was only in the single digits and teens.

But as cold as it felt here Monday morning, we escaped the worst of this last system. Portland, Maine set a new daily snowfall record for December 21 with 14.5” of snow. This broke a 75-year-old record by more than two inches. Albany, New York broke an even longer-standing record, though, with 6.6” of snow December 21 surpassing the old record of 5.7” set back in 1887. In addition to the snow from this storm system, wind chills were also brutally cold by Monday morning. It felt like -20 to -30 degrees from Iowa to Wisconsin and Minnesota, and North into the Dakotas.

As the high pressure parks over Virginia Monday evening, winds will weaken. Combine calm winds with clear skies and cold, dry air, and we have a perfect recipe for an even colder Tuesday morning in Central Virginia. I expect morning lows to bottom out in the teens in most places.

Southerly winds will return, though, after Tuesday morning, which will begin a gradual warming trend through the rest of this week. We do remain in a very active weather pattern, however, and our next storm system will track just to our north by Christmas Eve and Day, bringing a decent chance for rain Wednesday and Thursday.

-Carrie

Recap Of Autumn 2008

This autumn has been interesting to say the least. It started off with a bang when we saw over 2" of rain from Sept 25-26. Things quickly became stagnant in October, where we saw below average rainfall and temperatures that were just a hair above normal.

Significant changes arrived by November, especially late in the month. This quick change in weather pattern snapped our dry spell - rain totals ended up above average. Although the end of the month was extremely chilly, the average temp for the whole month was only barely below normal.

We then saw a complete change in the weather pattern heading into December. This month has been exceptionally wet and mild.

It's important to look back on the weather pattern during the fall because this can carry over into winter. More than likely we will see an abrupt change in the pattern next month, which means temps will drop back below normal for an extended period of time...just like in late November. During this transition, we could finally see our first real snowfall of the season!

Rainy Sunday morning, but clearing in afternoon

A strong low pressure storm system is moving through the Northeast Sunday morning, bringing rain to much of Virginia. Early Sunday morning, a winter mix of precipitation was occurring in the mountains out west, and also in north-central Virginia from Fredericksburg to D.C. For this reason, there is a Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 10 a.m. for those counties out west and far north-central. This storm system will quickly move northeast Sunday afternoon, ending central Virginia's rain chances by early afternoon. On the backside of this low, much colder air will settle in over the region, with low temperatures falling into the 20's Monday morning in central Virginia, and into the teens by Tuesday morning. Another round of rain is expected by Christmas Eve and lasting into Christmas Day. At this time, it looks like this system will bring rain to central Virginia instead of a White Christmas.

-Carrie

Winter Weather Advisory To The West

A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for communities to the west. Here is a map of the counties affected:



Although most of central Virginia is not in this advisory, we could still see a few ice pellets mixed in with the rain tonight and very early tomorrow morning. Temperatures will be in the upper 30s during this time, so these pellets will quickly melt on impact.

This is a situation that we are watching very closely and we will continue to bring you the very latest as this storm passes the area.

Much Colder Air Arrives Saturday

A cold front will move through central Virginia overnight, clearing the state by midday Saturday. Temperatures will slowly fall from the upper 40s at sunrise, to the low 40s at sunset. A storm system will bring rain to the area Saturday night through Sunday, with a winter mix expected north and west of Richmond.

Zach

Fog Expected To Lift Soon

The fog is sluggish to exit the region. Visibilities all along I-95 are still below one mile. Here are some images from our Sky Tracker cameras. The first one is our camera on the Dominion building...you can't see anything because of the fog!


Things are looking gray on Broad Street in the Near West End.


There has been some improvement in Petersburg, but outlying areas are still foggy.

The airport is still looking bad.

Things are looking a lot better to the southwest, where in Danville and South Hill, visibilities have increased above three miles. This trend will continue farther north into central Virginia in the next couple hours and we will be done with the fog by this evening.

Although most of the rain has moved north, we could still see a stray shower this afternoon and early evening.

Fog Continues

Visibilities are still below a mile for most of central Virginia. In fact, visibilities are less than a quarter mile in Charlottesville, Farmville and South Hill!

Here is what it looks like in downtown Richmond. We are looking off to the west - the downtown expressway is at the bottom of the image.



Here is a view from the ground from our rooftop camera here at the studios in the West End on Broad Street.



I'm still expecting visibilities to improve around noon today. However, spotty showers will still be possible into the afternoon.

Dense Fog This Morning

Areas along and west of I-95 are experiencing dense fog this morning. For this reason, Greensville County Schools are on a two hour delay and Brunswick County Schools are on a one hour delay.

Visibilities are below one mile in most locations, so this could slow you down for your morning commute. Most of the fog will lift and visibilities will improve by noon.

Isolated light showers are also moving across the area this morning. We will have a chance for hit-and-miss showers into the afternoon and then dry off later this evening.

Dense Fog Likely Again Overnight

Areas of dense fog will develop tonight across much of southern and southwestern Virginia, including the counties of Buckingham, Appomattox, and Charlotte. Southwest winds will develop by mid-morning Friday, clearing the fog in most areas.

Zach

Fog Slowly Lifting Out West

Conditions are improving for communities out west, where some patches of dense fog had developed earlier this morning. Visibilities in Danville are now at 2 miles, however, visibilities in Lynchburg are still below a mile. This fog will briefly lift in the afternoon and then redevelop later tonight.

Patchy Fog Possible Overnight

A cold front will continue to slowly move through the area tonight. Relatively high low-level moisture combined with falling temperatures will yield relative humidity values in the 90-100% range for much of the night. Patchy dense fog will likely develop, reducing visibilities significantly in localized areas.

Zach

Cold and Wet Overnight

Occasional light rain, fog, and drizzle will continue overnight in central Virginia. Temperatures will remain in the upper 30s in all areas except the far western and northern counties of the state, where a winter weather advisory remains in effect through early Wednesday. A light coating of ice, mixed with light sleet, will continue to be possible in these areas through the period.

Zach

Big Changes Today!

Spotty showers and embedded downpours have been moving across the area this morning and should persist into the afternoon and evening. Just three hours ago, temperatures were in the low 60s. Once the front passed, temps quickly dropped into the 40s - almost thirty degrees cooler than yesterday afternoon!

Record High Tied Monday in Richmond

The high temperature in Richmond reached 73 on Monday, tying the record set in 1984. A cold front will move through Richmond at 3 AM Tuesday, ushering in a much colder air mass, and ending our short-lived warm up. Afternoon temperatures on Tuesday will be 25-30 degrees colder than those at the same time Monday. A winter storm watch is in effect for northwest Virginia, Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

Zach

Isolated Showers Today

A few showers developed earlier this morning mainly west of I-95 and north of I-64. These have diminished, but isolated showers are still possible for the rest of today.

Check out how cold it is out west - temps were well below zero in the upper Midwest for this morning!



This region dealt with a major storm over the weekend that dumped over a foot of snow in some locations (indicated by the deep shades of blue).

Check Out the "Perigee" Full Moon Tonight

The moon's orbit around the earth is not a perfect circle. At it's farthest point from earth, it's called at apogee, and it's at perigee at the closest point. Tonight's full moon is closest to perigee, and appears 14% larger and 30% brighter than full moons at apogee. Grab a jacket and go check it out. It's most dramatic when it's closer to the horizon. Have a great weekend!

Zach

Update On Streams & Rivers

After yesterday's rain storm, rivers and streams are now all running at average or above average levels (indicated by the blue and black dots). It's hard to believe that almost all of these were running below normal just a couple days ago!

There are some minor flooding concerns at the Dan River in Halifax County and at the Meherrin River in Brunswick County. River levels will drop substantially by tomorrow morning for both counties.

Rain Is Now Gone

The rain has finally exited the area this morning - there were even a few peeks of sunshine! We will see a few clouds lingering into the afternoon and possibly a stray sprinkle, otherwise skies will clear out into tonight.

Two New Records at RIC

The massive storm system responsible for 25 tornadoes and snow in states that rarely ever see it, left it's mark in the Richmond record book. The warm air mass that streamed into the area yesterday ahead of the system resulted in an all-time record warm low temperature in Richmond for December 10th. The low never dropped below 61 degrees, breaking the old record of 60. The total rainfall for today has yet to be established, but as of 7 PM, a total of 1.90 inches had fallen, breaking the old record of 1.85 inches set back in 1960. Moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall will continue in central Virginia through 10 PM. The flood watch will continue until midnight tonight, as runoff will continue to cause flooding problems.

Zach

Tornado Watch in Effect Until 9 PM

A tornado watch has been issued for southeast Virginia, including Brunswick, Greensville, Surry, and Sussex counties until 9 PM.

Zach

Rain Totals Keep Climbing

Highest rain totals so far have been in western Amelia County and Prince Edward County, where almost an inch of rain has already fallen. Isolated thunderstorms have also popped up near Virginia Beach. The best chances for thunderstorms will continue to be in the southeast corner of the state.

Here is a map of real-time stream flow across the state. The orange and red dots represent streams/rivers with below normal flow. Green or blue dots show streams/rivers that are average or above average.



Right now the streams are running very low because of a recent dry spell. Rain totals from this storm should range from 1 to 3", so this will definitely change later tonight!

Steady Rain This Morning

A slow soaking rain is moving across the area for this morning. Rain totals have ranged from a quarter to a half inch so far with more on the way. The core of the storm system is spinning over New Orleans, so this is just one of many rounds of rain that will move across the area.

Flood Watch in Effect for Central Virginia

A flood watch is in effect Wednesday night through Thursday, as most of central Virginia is expected to receive periods of very heavy rain through the period. Most locations will pick up at least an inch of rain, with the greatest potential for more than 3 inches of rain southeast of the Richmond Metro Area. Light rain will increase in coverage through midnight tonight, with heavier rain and a few thunderstorms moving in between midnight and dawn.

Zach

Impressive Rain Potential

A stray shower will be possible this morning and early afternoon with a better chance for rain this evening and tonight. This storm system is tapping into a lot of moisture, which means that we could see a good soaking! Latest data shows anywhere from 1 to 3" of rain falling across the area. Here is a map of forecasted rain totals for the entire east coast. The deep purples indicate 1 to 2" while the reds represent totals exceeding 3".



These totals will depend heavily on if your neighborhood sees a thunderstorm or not. Regardless, some much-needed rainfall is headed this way!

Storm Update

A broad storm system will continue to affect our weather through the end of the work week. Widespread heavy rain is expected, with in excess of 2" of rain possible in central Virginia. The threat for strong to severe thunderstorms will bear close watching as well. As the system exits the area, enough cold air should be present for a light wintery mix early Friday.

Zach

Chance For Ice Diminishes

Temperatures continue to climb into the mid 30s and lower 40s across the entire area. Spotty light showers have developed in the southwest corner of the state and should slowly move into our skies later today. We will finish today with patches of light rain or drizzle and mild temperatures. In fact, temperatures will not drop off after sunset, instead they will hold steady or even rise!

Quiet For Now

Right now we have mostly cloudy skies and dry conditions. Temperatures across central Virginia are mainly in the mid 30s. Temps farther west in Charlottesville, Farmville and Lynchburg are hovering around the freezing mark. I've noticed a spot of moisture pop up in northern Buckingham county. More than likely that moisture is evaporating before it hits the ground.

I'm expecting isolated patches of drizzle will develop west of I-95 by late this morning. With temps near the freezing mark, some ice could develop. I will continue to monitor the situation and more updates through the morning.

Aaron
ajustus@wtvr.com

Light Freezing Rain/Drizzle/Fog Possible Tuesday AM

Very dry air is in place across central Virginia, and temperatures are falling close to or just below freezing in many areas. A favorable pattern for light precipitation will develop overnight, possibly resulting in a brief window of icy weather. Fog, drizzle, or sprinkles could develop in an air mass that is near or below freezing for a few hours early Tuesday. The concern would be limited to bridges and overpasses, where a thin layer of ice will be possible.

Zach

Cold Start to the Work Week

Monday will be a cold day in central Virginia, with temperatures only reaching the low 40s. I expect a big warm up on Tuesday and Wednesday, with highs in the upper 50s and low 60s. Rain will become likely by mid week with the approach of a strong storm system. Have a great work week!

Zach

Flurries Exit, Winds Strengthen

Flurries continue to diminish across the area this morning and we will finish the day with partly cloudy skies and dry conditions. At this hour we have winds from the west at 5 to 15 mph. They will strengthen to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon with gusts up to 35 mph. The wind will then drop to 5 to 15 mph after sunset.

Flurries Linger This Morning

Doppler Max 6 has detected a few flurries north of I-64 in Albemarle, Louisa, Spotsylvania and Caroline counties. These are drifting to the southeast and could clip the Richmond metro area and possibly farther south into Petersburg. A few flakes will be possible for the next couple hours, then we will have partly cloudy skies for the rest of the today.

Winds will strengthen into the afternoon with gusts up to 35 mph from the northwest. Winds will quickly diminish after sunset.

Snow Will Exit Tonight

Light snow continues to drift to the east and will eventually taper to flurries tonight. Temperatures remain well above freezing in and around Richmond, so most of the snow is melting on impact. Still use caution when driving tonight especially on bridges and overpasses, where a few slick spots could develop.

Wrap Up Of 2008 Hurricane Season

November 30th marked the official end to hurricane season. Although tropical systems can still develop in December, the chances are extremely slim. On the graph below, you can see how quickly the number of storms drop off through the month of November.



2008 will go down as an active hurricane season. There were fifteen named storms - seven of them becoming hurricanes. Here is a break-down of each storm.

8 Tropical Storms:
Arthur, Cristobal, Edouard, Fay, Josephine, Laura, Marco, Nana

4 Hurricanes:
Dolly, Hanna, Kyle, Omar

3 Major Hurricanes:
Bertha, Gustav, Ike

We experienced the remnants of both Fay and Hanna here in central Virginia (Cristobal was a near miss). Luckily neither storm created widespread damage. Instead, they brought some much needed rain to our drought-stricken area.

Here is a plot of all the storm tracks this season.

Gradual Clearing Expected Tonight

Skies will gradually clear tonight as drier and colder air moves into the area. Wind speeds will decrease as well, allowing overnight lows to fall into the low to mid 30s.

Zach

Isolated Showers This Afternoon

Spotty showers have developed this afternoon and will be possible into early this evening. In addition, winds will remain gusty through at least 11 PM before diminishing later tonight. Quiet weather will then return for Tuesday.

Sunny For Some

We finally got to see the sunshine this morning! A quick look at our Skytracker camera at Million Air at RIC shows clear skies.

However, clouds linger for some areas. Check out one of our cameras in Hanover County at Randolph Macon College.



We will see periods of clouds for the rest of today with a very slim chance for a passing shower in the afternoon. Winds will remain gusty through the evening and then diminish later tonight.

Windy Start to the Work Week

A cool front will move through the area early Monday, and strong southwest winds will develop in it's wake throughout the day. Sustained winds will be in the range of 15-25 mph, with a few higher gusts.

Zach

Winter Weather Advisory Update

A winter weather advisory will remain in effect until 3 PM for Albemarle, Nelson, Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Page, and Rockbridge counties.  A light coating of ice, generally less than .10 inch, will be possible as rain falls into sub-freezing surface temperatures.

Zach  

Weekend Weather Update

A strong storm system will spread rain into central Virginia Saturday evening through early Monday. Enough cold air could wrap into the system to produce a few flurries Monday afternoon and evening.

Zach

Seasonal Weather Continues on Black Friday

High thin clouds will continue in central Virginia throughout the day on Friday.  Temperatures will still be seasonal, with highs in the upper 50s to near 60 degrees.  A strong storm system will be moving into the area this weekend, bringing a good chance of rain to the state on Sunday.  I'll have the forecast details tonight at 6 and 11.

Zach

Zach's Winter Weather Outlook

We are now in a much different weather pattern than this time last year, and it is expected to remain that way. I'll have the winter weather outlook for central Virginia, including total snowfall predictions, on CBS 6 tonight at 6 and 11.

Zach

Thanksgivings Past

I had someone here at the TV station ask about the weather for the past few Thanksgivings - from Wednesday through Friday. I did the research and figured I would share the results with you as well!

2007
Wed Nov 21: 76°, dry
Thu Nov 22: 75°, sprinkles
Fri Nov 23: 49°, dry

2006
Wed Nov 22: 47°, rainy
Thu Nov 23: 49°, light rain
Fri Nov 24: 67°, dry

2005
Wed Nov 23: 44°, flurries
Thu Nov 24: 65°, dry
Fri Nov 25: 39°, dry

2004
Wed Nov 24: 69, light rain
Thu Nov 25: 68, light rain
Fri Nov 26: 48, dry

Nice Weather Expected Through Thanksgiving

Expect cold nights and cool afternoon with no chance of precipitation in central Virginia through Thanksgiving Day. A more unsettled weather pattern will develop over the weekend.

Zach

Isolated Snow Showers West Of I-95

A few light snow showers have popped up on Doppler Max 6 this afternooon. These are moving to the east and should affect some areas in Central Virginia. These are being fueled by the sunshine, so once the sun goes down, skies will quickly clear and the chance for snow flakes will be diminish.

Rain Now Gone

We had a few lingering light showers earlier this morning, but now they have moved east. Rain totals ranged from a quarter to a half inch. Although skies are now sunny, clouds will return by midday with a chance for a few flurries. Once the sun sets, skies will quickly clear out later this evening.

Most of the Rain has Shifted East of the Area

The bulk of the rain has shifted east of Richmond, and only scattered showers are expected through early Tuesday. A cold front will move through the area bringing breezy westerly winds and cooler temperatures to the area by afternoon.

Zach

Light to Moderate Rain Continues

Expect light to moderate rainfall to continue for the next several hours in central Virginia. Most locations will receive between .10 and .25 of rainfall through midnight. I'll have another update later tonight.

Zach

Rain Quickly Moving Into Central Virginia

A broad area of rainfall continues to develop and move into central parts of the state. A few scattered areas of light rain will arrive in Richmond at about 4:10 PM, followed by a more consistent and heavier wave of rain due in around 6 PM.

Zach

Above Normal?

I was perusing through Richmond's climate this morning and was startled by one statistic - on average, temps have been slightly above normal so far this month. This is hard to believe considering the cold weather we've seen the past week - we tied a record low temperature on Sunday morning!

If you crunch through the numbers (high and lows), you get a 50.2 average temperature. Granted, the normal is 50.0, so we are *just* barely above the norm.

We have some rain headed this way for late this afternoon and especially this evening and tonight. This storm system will also bring in a reinforcing push of cooler air, so it is possible that we will finish the month at or slightly below normal.

Expect Gradual Clearing and Very Cold Temps

The flurries have now ended in the area and skies are beginning to clear. Lows tonight will fall into the low to mid 20s in the metro, with even colder readings north and west of Richmond.

Zach

Clouds Thicken, Flurries To The West

Isolated patches of flurries have developed west of I-95. The best chance to see flakes right now will be from Orange through Charlottesville and farther south into Farmville. Clouds have returned for most of central Virginia and isolated flurries will still be possible across the entire state for this afternoon. Skies will quickly clear later this evening, especially right after sunset.

Winds have also strengthened from the northwest 15 to 25 mph (stronger gusts possible). These breezes will ease up later tonight and into tomorrow morning.

Wintry Weather Quickly Exiting

Light snow lingers in the southeast corner of the state and should be completely gone in the next couple hours. In fact, skies are now clear for most of central Virginia. The core of the storm system is still to the west and will pass over the area later this morning and into the afternoon. Clouds will quickly return and isolated flurries will also be possible.

Wintry Mix To The South

There have been several reports of light snow south of I-64 - from Emporia to Wakefield and into Virginia Beach. I also got a phone call from a viewer in Dewitt who says it's snowing. This batch of wintry weather is moving to the southeast and shouldn't affect Richmond or communities to the north. In addition, temps are well above freezing, so I am not expecting any significant accumulations with the snow this morning.

Isolated pockets of flurries will still be possible for the entire state this afternoon as the core of this storm system passes overhead.

Be sure to send photos of snow to the Weather Center: weather@wtvr.com!

Breezy and Cold Finish to the Work Week

A strong cold front has moved through the area and will bring the state a blustery end to the work week. An upper-level disturbance will move over the area on Friday, producing flurries across much of the region. The cold air will last through the weekend, with a slow moderation in temperatures expected next week.

Zach

A Very Cold Night Ahead

The snow has now ended across most of the state, but the cold air is still settling in. Lows by Wednesday morning will be in the teens and twenties statewide. The current cold weather pattern will generally stay in place through the remainder of the month, resulting in below normal temperatures, and another chance or two to see a few flurries.

Zach

Flurries Linger

Just got a report from my co-anchor Greg McQuade, and he says that there are flurries in Carytown. Looking at Doppler Max 6, we still have isolated flurries hanging around the area...even with temperatures in the upper 30s and low 40s! The chance for flurries will quickly diminish after sunset (around 5 PM).

Snow Pictures From Matoaca

These were sent in by Donna Lodge, thanks!

Flurries Exit

Most of the the flurries have now diminished across the area. We could still see extremely isolated pockets of flurries for the rest of this morning, but the chances are slim.

Keep those photos coming! Email me at ajustus@wtvr.com

Video Of Snow In Chesterfield

This was sent in by James Williams...thank you!

Snow In Chesterfield County

A nice batch of flurries is now moving through Chesterfield County. Here is a photo from Claudia:

More Snow Reports

We have received some more reports of flurries in the near West End of Richmond. These photos were sent in from Evelyn in Louisa where it snowed earlier this morning.

Flurries In The Area

I got a call from Stacy, our weatherwatcher in Louisa, and she reports that snow is falling at her house. Patches of flurries will be possible through the morning, then skies will eventually clear out by this evening. We are not expecting any accumulations with these flurries, in fact, most will melt on impact.

Please send any photos of snow to my email, ajustus@wtvr.com, and I will show them on-air!

Flurries Possible in Central Virginia

A strong cold front will move through the area tonight, setting us up for a very blustery day on Tuesday. There will be very little moisture to work with, but strong lift due to the upper storm system should be sufficient to produce a few flurries around central Virginia. The bigger story will be the wind chills, which will remain in the 30s throughout the day.

Zach

Light Rain To The North

Some light rain has developed in northern VA. This batch of showers will continue to move to the east and should miss metro Richmond and areas to the south.

A stray shower will be possible for the entire area later this evening and into tonight. We could also see a couple flurries tonight as colder air descends into the Mid-Atlantic.

A Cool Week Ahead

A cool air mass will turn colder on Monday with the passage of a strong cold front. Temperatures will struggle to reach the mid 40s Tuesday afternoon as the colder air continues to pour into the state. Lows by Wednesday morning will fall into the upper teens and low to mid 20s. A few snow flurries will be possible as the associated upper disturbance moves through the area Monday night into Tuesday morning. Temperatures will remain cooler than normal for at least the next 7 days. Have a great work week!

Zach

Severe Threat Gone, Showers Linger

The threat for severe thunderstorms is now gone for today. Spotty showers linger behind the front and should exit the region late this evening and into tonight.

Richmond, Petersburg In The Clear

Most of metro Richmond and Petersburg have been removed from the Tornado Watch. Strong storms are still possible for the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.

Tornado Threat Shifts East

The threat for damaging thunderstorms continues for areas along and east of I-95, where a Tornado Watch remains in effect until 7 PM. Most areas west of I-95 are now clear of the Tornado Watch...with exception of Dinwiddie, Brunswick and eastern Chesterfield counties.

Spotty showers have been developing behind the front, so the rain chance will linger after sunset. These showers will pose no threat for severe weather.

More updates to come...

Tornado Watch Until 7 PM For Most Of The Area

A line of thunderstorms is starting to develop to the west and should overspread most of the area for this afternoon. These storms will be moving very quickly, so damaging winds will be possible. In addition, there is enough spin in the atmosphere that a brief tornado could also develop.

Most storms should exit the region this evening and into tonight.

Tornado Watch Likely by 1 PM for Central Virginia

A few breaks in the clouds has resulted in a very warm and unstable environment over much of the area.  Thunderstorms will develop in a broken line this afternoon, and enough wind shear is present to produce a few tornadoes.  I expect a tornado watch to be issued by around 1 PM today.  Aaron and I will be in the CBS 6 Storm Center, tracking the storms through our area.

Zach

Rain Mainly East Of I-95

As you can see on Doppler Max 6 from above, at this hour most of heaviest rain is east of I-95. The Tornado Watch for our southeastern communities has now been lifted, although there are a couple strong thunderstorms affecting the Norfolk and Eastern Shore areas. These will continue to move to the northeast and away from our area.

It looks like things have really improved for the Richmond Marathon! Isolated light showers will be possible, but most of the race should be dry.

Another round of rain will head this way later today as the core of the storm system approaches. Embedded in the showers will be a few strong thunderstorms. We'll keep you posted!

Tornado Watch in Effect Until 8 AM

A tornado watch is in effect for Greensville, Sussex, and Surry counties, including the cities of Emporia and Williamsburg, until 8 AM Saturday morning.

Zach

Enhanced Tornado Threat Saturday

Strong low-level wind shear will result in the potential for rotating thunderstorms capable of producing short-lived tornadoes on Saturday.  As of midnight, tornado watches had been posted as far north as the Virginia/North Carolina border, with a few strong storms already moving into central Virginia.  A round of strong to possibly severe thunderstorms is expected in the metro area before 3 AM.

Zach

Rain will Increase in Coverage Overnight

Increasing low-level moisture and lift from an approaching storm system will result in widespread rainfall overnight in central Virginia. Areas not receiving rain will likely see drizzle or fog. Temperatures should remain steady or slowly rise toward morning.

Zach

Spotty Showers In The Area

We still have fog looming around the area. In addition, a few showers have moved into central Virginia from North Carolina. The chance for scattered showers will persist into this afternoon and evening. I will have an update during our noon newscast...see you there!

Fog Lingers

Visibilities have improved a little in Richmond and Petersburg, where visibilities are now at 1.5 miles. There are reports of thick fog and light rain farther south in Emporia, South Hill and Norfolk. North Carolina is inundated in rain showers, which I'm still expecting to move into our area by the afternoon and evening.

Foggy Start To Friday

Patches of dense fog have developed across the area. Visibilities in Richmond have dropped below a quarter mile. Half mile visibilities have been reported in Petersburg, South Hill and Norfolk. Some mist and drizzle will also be possible with the thickest fog. Most of this should lift by the late morning with rain showers moving in for the afternoon.

Fog and Drizzle Likely Overnight

The consistent rain has ended in central Virginia, but we will continue to see areas of fog and drizzle overnight. Rain chances will once again increase Friday afternoon and evening, with a 100% chance of rain Friday night through Saturday afternoon. Enough instability should be present to produce a few thunderstorms as the upper-level storm system moves through the area Saturday afternoon.

Zach

A Soggy Lunch

Showers have now overspread the area and will persist through a good chunk of the afternoon. We're still expecting these showers to quickly race out of here in the evening - between 5 and 9 PM.

Steady Rain To The West

I am tracking a nice line of steady rain that has developed to the west. This rain will eventually overspread central Virginia by midday and last for most of the afternoon. The majority of the rain will quickly exit the region after sunset (between 5 and 9 PM).

More Rain Headed This Way

More light rain showers are developing to the southwest and are headed this way. For this reason, isolated showers will still be possible this afternoon and evening. This is just the start of a rainy weather pattern for the next few days.

Light Rain In The Area

A few light rain showers are moving across the area for this morning. This is quickly moving to the east/northeast and should be out of here by midday. I will be tracking these showers through the morning - you can follow along by watching the live stream of Doppler Max 6 at the top of this page!

George Washington National Forest

We are blessed to live in a state that is so beautiful, and has so much to offer. My family and I try to do something new each week, whether it be eating at a new restaurant, going to a new park, or getting to the beach, bay, or mountains. This past weekend, we made it up to the mountains, and found ourselves in the George Washington National Forest in Nelson county. We took a quick hike up to Spy Rock, one of the best viewpoints in the Blue Ridge. With two young children, we weren't able to hang out long, but long enough to really enjoy the scenery. The photo below is of Mount Pleasant, one of the highest peaks in the area. We'll be heading back again soon.

Zach

Weather On Mars

You may have seen this story during the morning newscast, but NASA's Phoenix Lander finally succumbed to the weather on Mars. So it makes you wonder - how bad is the weather on Mars?

Right now Mars is still in summer (seasons last about two times as long as Earth), and temps have dipped as low as -141 degrees Fahrenheit during the night. Once it turns winter later next year, temps could drop as low as -230!

Granted, the Lander is at a very high latitude - almost near the pole. At lower latitudes, daytime temps can reach a balmy 70 degrees in the middle of summer.

School Visit to Kersey Creek Elementary

I made my way up to Hanover county this afternoon to talk to a group of about 150 4th grade students at Kersey Creek Elementary school. They were a very sharp group, and we were able to cover all types of weather affecting central Virginia. I'm in the back of the pack in the photo, demonstrating static electricity with a balloon on a willing participant's hair.

Zach

Paloma Makes Landfall In Cuba

Paloma made landfall in Cuba as a strong Category 3 hurricane. Here is the text from the National Hurricane Center:

AT APPROXIMATELY 620 PM EST...2320 UTC...HIGH-RESOLUTION GOES SATELLITE DATA AND A RECENT POSITION FIX FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT...PLUS SURFACE OBSERVATIONS AND RADAR DATA FROM CUBA...INDICATE THAT MAJOR HURRICANE PALOMA LIKELY MADE LANDFALL NEAR SANTA CRUZ DEL SUR CUBA AS A STRONG CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 125 MPH...200 KM/HR.

A Look Ahead...

I'm the kind of meteorologist that's always looking for the next big storm. Big storms really aren't common this time of year, so it's more about looking ahead to the next cold snap or chance of snow. We may have such an occurrence about two weeks from today. There doesn't appear to be a strong case for snow, but colder temperatures are looking more and more likely by the day. We have enjoyed highs in the 60s and 70s for much of October and so far in November, but this cold snap could bring us our first few days of highs in the 40s. It's a long way off, so much remains to be seen. I'll have updates in the coming days. Have a great weekend.

Zach

Paloma Continues to Strengthen

Hurricane Paloma will likely become a strong category 2 or even a category 3 major hurricane before making landfall in central Cuba.  Strong westerlies in the southeast U.S. will steer Paloma south and east of the U.S. mainland, taking the storm over the Bahamas, and then into the open waters of the Atlantic.

Zach

Paloma Named In The Caribbean

Hurricane season isn't over yet - Paloma was named at 4 AM today! This storm will slowly move north through the Caribbean in the next few days. We will continue to track this storm and keep you posted.

New Tropical Depression

Tropical depression #17 has developed off the coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras this afternoon, and will likely strengthen over the next several days. Conditions appear favorable for this disturbance to become a hurricane while moving north-northeast. If so, it would be called Paloma. Below is the forecast track from the National Hurricane Center.




Zach

Most Showers Have Moved East

Although skies remain cloudy, most of the rain has moved to the east, closer to the core of the storm system. We could still see an isolated shower this afternoon and evening, with the best chances east of I-95.

Wet Weather to Continue Overnight

Areas of light rain, drizzle, and fog will continue overnight in central Virginia. Heavier rain will be possible across far eastern sections of the state, especially by Wednesday morning. Rain chances will decrease in the Richmond Metro Area throughout the course of the day Wednesday, with the heaviest rain continuing to impact far eastern parts of the state.

Zach

Showers Have Broken Apart

We are now seeing a lull in the action although isolated light showers still linger across the area. Some steadier rain is developing to the south and southeast and could overspread central VA later this afternoon and evening. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you posted!

Doppler Max 6

I have embedded a live stream of Doppler Max 6 into our blog so you can track showers as they move across the area.

Still Watching To The South

Showers are widely scattered from Petersburg southward to Emporia. This could replace the steady rain we are experiencing right now in the Richmond metro area. It may be a good idea to vote around lunch...you may not need your umbrella! More updates to come!

Steady Rain In Richmond

Rain is still falling outside the WTVR studios...what a soggy start to Election Day! I have noticed that showers are becoming more spotty along the North Carolina state line. This trend could migrate up into the metro Richmond area later this morning and into midday. We will continue to watch the situation and keep you updated!

Will Rain Help Out McCain?

According to an extensive study of fourteen presidential elections (here is the link to the abstract), weather can have an impact on voter turnout. In general, people are less likely to vote when either rain or snow is falling from the sky (cold air has a minimal effect). In addition, Democrats are less likely to vote in inclement weather than Republicans.

Looking at the latest data, rain still looks possible tomorrow, especially in the afternoon. So you have to wonder: will it have an impact on the outcome in Virginia?

Other states that will see some rain or snow: North Carolina, South Carolina, California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, western Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.

Here is the latest satellite/radar composite as of 1 PM.

End of the Growing Season

A freeze is expected across the entire state of Virginia tonight, bringing the 2008 growing season to an end. The growing season has already ended across central and western Virginia, and eastern sections should see a killing freeze tonight. The official low temperature recorded at RIC has yet to reach 32 degrees, hitting a season-low of 35 Thursday morning. The low of 32 by Friday morning will be just about right on target for our average first freeze in Richmond. Temperatures will rebound nicely Friday afternoon, warming well into the mid and upper 60s.

Zach

Pictures Of Fall Foliage

Here are a few photos emailed to me of foliage across the area. This photo was taken near St. Mary's Hospital by Tammy Hinkle


Here is a photo from Lexington, VA taken by Melissa Cox

These last two were taken near Blue Ridge Parkway (the first is Crabtree Falls) - both taken by Paul Duffy.

Blustery Day Today

Winds will become gusty today as the storm system that brought us rain yesterday continues to move up the coast. Winds will be the strongest from noon to 5 PM - they will be sustained from the northwest 20 to 30 mph. Some gusts could be even stronger. It will remain breezy this evening, then winds will slowly diminish into tonight.

First Freeze Right on Schedule

With cold air continuing to pour into Virginia tonight, it appears as though Richmond will get it's first freeze of the season. Looking at the 30-year statistical averages (for the period 1971-2000), the average first freeze in Richmond is October 29th. That just happens to be the first day this season we have had 32 degrees as our forecast low. So we will see this Wednesday if Mother Nature will be right on schedule.

Zach

Cold Air Approaching

Skies were mainly clear with mild conditions for this morning. However, just to the west, changes are headed this way. Right now, it is cold enough in the higher elevations of the Blue Ridge to support a wintry mix. Check out the satellite/radar loop from earlier this morning.



The core of the cold air is just now entering into the Midwest where some areas were in the teens and 20s!



This air will descend into our area Tuesday and Wednesday. Although the air mass will moderate some, we will still see the coldest air of the season. Get those coats ready!

Half & Half Weekend

I just took a look at the latest data, and it continues to suggest we will have two very different days of weather over the upcoming weekend. Rain and a few thunderstorms is a near certainty for Saturday, but the storm system will move quickly northeastward, and Sunday appears to be a mostly sunny and mild day. The rain is much needed, with Richmond currently running a deficit of more than 2" this October. So make your indoor plans for Saturday and get outside on Sunday. A modified arctic air mass will move into the area Monday afternoon, bringing several days of chilly temperatures to the area.

Zach

Much Need Rainfall Headed This Way!

We are still tracking that storm system out west, which is dumping wet snow across western Nebraska (winter storm warnings are still in effect). We are also watching down to the south, where there is a lot of energy and moisture. Parts of the Gulf Coast has been experiencing very heavy rain...especially in Florida.



The storm out west will tap into this energy and moisture from the south and could dump a lot of rain across the Mid-Atlantic on Saturday. We are keeping a close eye on this scenario and will keep you posted.

I know this is bad timing by Mother Nature - bringing rain on the weekend - but we really need it!

Pocahontas Elementary School Visit

I headed west this morning, out HWY 60 to Powhatan, to speak with the fourth graders (and a few 1st graders) at Pocahontas Elementary School.  The group of about 150 students was very attentive and had plenty of good questions for me about the hows and whys of weather in central Virginia.  We covered everything from tornadoes and hurricanes to sleet and snow.  I took an alternate route back to Richmond, going north on Hwy 522 and then east on Hwy 6.  The Fall color is becoming more vibrant, and it looks like the next two to three weeks will be quite a show.  

Zach

Echo Lake Elementary School Visit

I went out to Echo Lake Elementary School today to talk to the 4th grade students about weather. The "Home of the Dolphins" is celebrating it's 10th year of existence this year, and the students gave me one of their commemorative t-shirts as a gift. Echo Lake is located in Henrico County, just west of Staples Mill Road and south of I-295. I'll be at a school again on Wednesday, this time in Powhatan County.



Zach

We Need More Rain!

You may have seen the stories from our morning news, but city leaders are thinking about mandating voluntary water restrictions to the area. Even though we saw some rain last Friday, things have been very dry for the past 30 days. You can see on the map below - most areas across Virginia are 1.5 to 3" below normal.



Interestingly we are not officially in drought conditions yet. In fact we are not even close.



However, if you check out the stream flow across the region, most rivers and streams are flowing below normal...including the James (orange/red dots are below normal).



This is a situation that we will continue to watch very closely. Luckily, the chances for rain are looking pretty good for Saturday!