Winter Storm Watch in Effect for NW VA

Cold air near the surface will create a favorable setup for freezing rain late Tuesday into early Wednesday. Up to 1/4" of ice accumulation will be possible, with the greatest threat in the Shenandoah Valley.

Strong Storm To Affect Most Of U.S.

A strengthening low pressure center over California early Monday will dig and track eastward Monday through Wednesday, bringing heavy snow to the Four Corners, Plains, Upper Midwest, and northern New England. Farther south, this storm will mean heavy rainfall across the Southeast into the Mid-Atlantic, including for us in Central Virginia from late Tuesday through Wednesday. Check out the widespread winter weather advisories, watches, and warnings stretching from the Southwest U.S. to the Great Lakes:

Severe storms will be possible across the Deep South Tuesday and Wednesday as Gulf moisture surges northward and as upper-lift swings through the region. Rain is expected to move into Central Virginia late Tuesday evening into most of Wednesday before the upper low rapidly exits northeast Wednesday night. Periods of heavy rain will be possible in the Commonwealth.

Record Longest Growing Season

As previously mentioned on the Blog, Richmond International Airport did not record its first Fall freeze until December 1, 2009, which was just one day shy of tying the record latest first Fall freeze (Dec 2, 1985). Even though we did not tie or break that record, we did set a new record for the longest growing season in Richmond. The last Spring freeze was officially March 25, 2009, resulting in a 250-day growing season this year in Richmond. That's an 8 month and 5 day growing season. This is the longest growing season on record, beating the previous record-holder from 1899, when the season lasted 248 days (March 21-Nov 25, 1899).