New Year's Eve Forecast

A low pressure storm system currently moving out of the Plains will bring an opportunity for rain showers to Central Virginia starting after Midnight tonight, through Thursday, and into early New Year's Day. Over the past 24 hours (through 8:30 a.m. Wednesday), you can see the progress of the storm from the Southern Plains heading into the Midwest:

Snowfall in the Plains and Midwest has been relatively minor, only a couple inches being reported in the region. Across the Southeast, up to an inch of rainfall accumulation will be possible. Once the system reaches the Commonwealth, it appears that precipitation will fall in the form of rain, but with temperatures expected to be at or below freezing for the western half of the state there will be a period of freezing rain Thursday morning that may lead to slick spots. Rain totals should be low in our area, generally less than a quarter inch. For New Year's Eve around Midnight, rain chances will be very low, with temperatures in the 30's.

We are still on track for an extended period of much colder weather the first week of 2010 as persistent Northwest flow keeps Canadian air flowing into the Mid-Atlantic.