Series Of Storms

A series of storms have been tracking eastward through the U.S. after slamming into the West Coast and dumping large amounts of rain and snow in a short period of time. Parts of California have received nearly 7" of rain through Wednesday morning, with more coming down today and tomorrow. Severe weather even accompanied yesterday's storm with several small tornadoes reported in Southern California. Snow totals in the mountains of California are greater than two feet and climbing. Each of these storms will bring Central Virginia an opportunity for precipitation later Wednesday through Friday, and again later Sunday into Monday.

A cold front moved through most of the state early Wednesday, bringing cooler temperatures to the Mid-Atlantic. Here is a look at the mid-day Wednesday surface map, where you can see the three low pressure systems in the Plains, the Rockies, and the West Coast:

Surface high pressure will slide southward over New England the next couple of days, keeping the cooler air funneling into Central Virginia. This can create a layer of sub-freezing air near the ground which allows rain falling into the layer to freeze as sleet. Northern and Western Virginia will have the highest chance for this wintry mix early Thursday and again on Friday while moisture from the approaching upper storm overspreads the region. Our rain chances later Wednesday through Friday will result from the first and second storms tracking eastward. Storm #3, which is currently slamming into California, will bring an opportunity for heavy rain in Virginia later Sunday into Monday. Strong southerly flow at all levels ahead of that storm should bring much milder temperatures surging back into the state, keeping the precipitation as just rain.

Snow Nearly Gone In Virginia

Snow pack lingered for a month in western parts of Virginia after the mid-December snowstorm and other more minor snow events. But after several days of milder weather, plus rain on Sunday, much of the snow has finally disappeared in the mountains. This is a look at the current snow depth in our region.


Compare this to what snow depth was just ten days ago after a dusting of snow in Central Virginia added to snow pack left over in many places from December:

Western and north-central parts of the state will have the potential for a winter mix Thursday and Friday as a storm system approaches from the west. Colder air will already be in place in the region after a cold front moves through late Tuesday night into early Wednesday. In much of Central Virginia, though, it appears that rain is the likely precipitation mode with slightly warmer temperatures expected.

Rain Totals From Sunday

Sunday was definitely a wet one in all of Central Virginia while a low pressure system tracked over the state. Rain totals ranged 0.5" to 1.5" in the area, accounting for most of January's precipitation totals to date.
Richmond International Airport recorded 1.23" which set a new record rainfall for January 17th. The previous record was 1.11" set in 1978.
Another storm system will track through the region Thursday and Friday, bringing a round of rain. It does appear, though, that the higher rain totals will be to our south into the Carolinas and Georgia.