Much-Needed Rain Chances

A couple of storm systems will bring some much-needed rainfall to Central Virginia, as our rainfall deficit has been growing over the past several weeks from our dry (and unseasonably hot at times!) stint of weather. Richmond is now about 1.5" below average for the month of April, just barely hanging on in the positive side for the year-to-date total (+0.52" from average). The first storm will arrive Wednesday and bring showers to the Commonwealth from around sunrise through Wednesday night. But a much larger, stronger, and slower-moving storm will arrive this weekend and linger in the region into early next week. We could also see strong thunderstorms in Central Virginia Sunday as the upper system gets closer to Virginia. We'll be tracking that system and let you know of any potential severe impacts.

More Seasonal Air Arrives for the Weekend

A cold front will move through the state overnight, bringing a more seasonal air mass into the region for the weekend. Highs in central Virginia were in the upper 80s to near 90 degrees Friday ahead of the front. Highs on Saturday and Sunday will stay in the 60s and very low 70s. Most locations will remain dry as the front moves through the area, with only isolated showers expected very early Saturday. The lack of rainfall in the past few weeks, combined with brisk northwest winds, will result in an elevated fire risk on Saturday. A northwest flow pattern will persist through much of next week, resulting in cool nights and slightly below normal highs.

Clear & Chilly This Morning

Temperatures have fallen early Thursday morning into the 30's in much of the Commonwealth as a result of clearing skies overnight, calm winds, and drier air settling into the Mid-Atlantic from a strong area of high pressure. Here are the 6:30 a.m. temperatures:

You can see the high pressure area parked right over Virginia this morning as well:

The low pressure system you see tracking through south-central Canada right now is going to bring a cold front into our state by early Saturday, with a chance for showers Friday evening into Saturday morning. Overall rain chances are very low, but it does look like we'll have some scattered light rain showers around Central Virginia Friday late afternoon and evening into Saturday morning while the front is tracking through. This front will also bring another shot of cooler air into the Mid-Atlantic, which will drop our high temperatures back into the 60's to around 70 degrees on Saturday, and holding in the 60's Sunday.