Showers Moving Out

Rain has now left the metro Richmond area and the rest of this evening will be dry. A few showers linger in the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, and farther south near the state line along I-95. These showers will diminish in the next hour and skies will become partly cloudy for the rest of tonight.

Rain Moving Across The Area

Rain showers have now entered into the area and will eventually exit between 7 and 10 this evening. By the time colder air wraps into this system, most of the precipitation will be gone, so the chances for any more wintry weather remains very slim.

Wet and Warmer Wednesday Afternoon

The great thaw is well in progress in Virginia mid-day Wednesday, with winds turning to the South and ushering in much warmer temperatures to the state. By later this afternoon, the entire state will be back into the 40's, 50's, and 60's (from North to South). Fog will gradually decrease from South to North this afternoon, improving visibilities. At Noon, though, visibilities from Richmond north to on I-95 are still at a quarter of a mile.

Another round of rain will move into Western Virginia through the afternoon, and sweep through the state by this evening. I expect the trailing edge of the rain to clear far Southeast Virginia by Midnight.

The latest data still indicates a slight chance for flurries in Central Virginia Friday, as another low pressure system tracks to our North and brings a reinforcing shot of colder air to the region. We are also monitoring a stronger storm system that may impact Virginia and much of the Eastern U.S. Tuesday. Stay with CBS 6, we'll keep you ahead of the storm.
--Carrie--

Wednesday Morning Update 8:41AM

Temperatures are starting to rise in the Richmond area above freezing at this time. Drizzle continues in much of the region, but another round of rain is expected to move from Northwest to Southeast in the state this afternoon and evening.

Fog is blanketing much of Central Virginia as well, with visibilities being reduced to a quarter mile in Richmond. Fog may be dense in spots, so remember to keep your headlights on low beams and slow down.



Here is a picture submitted by a viewer in Stony Creek:

Wednesday Morning Update 5:35AM

Freezing drizzle continues in the Metro Richmond area this morning, which is adding to the thin glaze of ice on primarily elevated surfaces like trees. As you go outside early this morning, you will notice some of those tree limbs starting to sag under the weight of that glaze of ice. Already compromised or previously damaged tree limbs are breaking, and some of these are ending up in roadways. Please be on the lookout for limbs in the roads early this morning. Also, bridges and overpasses have that same glaze of ice on them, with patchy black ice on other roads (primarily secondary streets).

This picture was taken outside of the CBS 6 studio by John Ives, showing the glaze of ice accumlated on tree limbs this morning.

The good news is that temperatures are expected to rise above freezing in Richmond shortly after sunrise, which will end the freezing drizzle and begin the melting process. Freezing rain will continue this morning, though, in Western and Northern Virginia until Noon, when the Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories will expire. By this afternoon, temperatures will be in the 50's in much of Central Virginia as warmer air surges Northward with those Southerly winds.

--Carrie--