Winter Storm Watch in Effect: Snow & Ice

A winter storm watch has been issued for all of central Virginia, with the expectation of another round of winter weather moving into the area on Tuesday. The precipitation should begin late Tuesday morning in the metro area as light snow. The snow will likely mix with sleet by mid afternoon, and will eventually change to freezing rain close to sunset. Surface temperatures should remain at or below freezing for a period of 6 to 9 hours as it continues to rain, allowing an appreciable accretion of ice on elevated objects and some roadways. The freezing rain will change back to snow a few hours after midnight, with snow tapering off during the morning Wednesday. Deepening low pressure just off the coast will create strong northwest winds Wednesday that could result in power outages, especially in areas that receive a good coating of ice on trees and power lines. Stay with CBS 6, We'll Keep You Ahead of the Storm.

More Snow For Northern Virginia

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday night, where there is the potential for 5" or more of snowfall during this timeframe in the highlighted counties. This would be on top of deep snowcover already in the region. Check out the visible satellite image:

See the line in southeast Pennsylvania into northern Maryland? That's the Susquehanna River.
South of the Watch area, snowfall accumulation is also possible, with up to an inch as far south as the Richmond metro and Farmville. What appears to be of a greater concern, though, is the potential for freezing rain Tuesday evening as surface temperatures dip below freezing while precipitation falls in liquid form. Colder air will move into the state aloft pre-dawn Wednesday, allowing precipitation to change over to snow. Snow showers will be possible through Wednesday morning in Central Virginia as the storm exits to the east.