Periods of Rain Today

Scattered showers and embedded, isolated thunderstorms are moving northeast through the state Thursday, some continaining heavy, beneficial rainfall. A cool front is slowly moving southeast through Virginia today, and will clear the state by Midnight tonight. Until then, periods of rain will continue off and on through the afternoon, gradually winding down from west to east this evening.
You can email me your rain totals from yesterday through today at crose@wtvr.com.

Much Needed Rain On The Way

Widespread rain with embedded thunderstorms will overspread central Virginia tonight, ahead of an upper-level wave and associated surface cool front. Much of the area is well below normal in rainfall for the year, with the deficit now at 6.25" in Richmond. The downside to this rain event will be the flash flooding, which will likely occur in many areas. The rain should come through in several waves, with the last of the activity ending from west to east Thursday afternoon.

Triple Digits On The Way?

The hottest temperature so far this year at Richmond International Airport has been 97 degrees, which occurred on July 26. There are indications of a weather pattern change this coming weekend, one that may bring triple-digit temperatures to Central Virginia. In any case, we might tie or beat the hottest temperatures so far this summer in Richmond. This weekend, a strong ridge of high pressure looks like it will develop in the Southeast into the Mid-Atlantic.

A setup like this can lead to highs in the upper 90's to around 100 degrees. Here are the record highs to beat at RIC for the weekend into early next week:

August 8: 104 (2007)
August 9: 101 (1930)
August 10: 100 (1900)
August 11: 102 (1900)

The average high for early August in Richmond is 87 degrees.