Snow Season 2010-2011 Update

If you feel like it's been a "snowier" Winter so far this season as compared to this time last season, you may be right--by one definition. It's not from snow accumulation, but by the number of days we've received at least some snow. By this time last Winter, we'd had 10 days where it snowed at least a trace or more. Our accumulated snowfall at Richmond International Airport was 17.8" from December 2009 and January 2010. That definitely surpasses our total snowfall so far this Winter season (10.7" through 1/27/11), but we've already had 13 days (before Friday) with at least a trace of snow. Here's a comparison of last Winter to this Winter so far, including what an average Winter snowfall season is like in Richmond:

But this morning we added another snow day with this light snow that passed through Richmond mid-morning. It will probably only register as a trace officially at the airport, but I'm counting that as a "snow day" in my tally of "Days it Snowed." So our total today for the season is now up to 14 from 13. Even though we've missed the bigger snow dumps just to our north and west (as evidenced by the snow depth maps pictured below, indicative of multiple snowstorms reinforcing snowcover), we've still had more snow days so far this Winter than we had at this time last Winter. And we're closing in quickly on the 19 day tally from last Winter, especially with another potential winter weather event coming next week in the Tuesday-Wednesday time-frame. Not to mention, February is typically Richmond's "snowiest" month out of an average Winter season. January is 2nd snowiest, December: 3rd, March: 4th, November: 5th, and April: 6th snowiest.

We'll provide updates on that next potential winter weather maker as the track, timing, and expected impacts become clearer. Right now, it looks like central Virginia could initially receive snow and sleet beginning Tuesday morning, then eventually change over to all rain for Wednesday. However, some of that rain may be freezing rain with surface temperatures expected to dip below freezing Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. That would create ice at the ground and on elevated objects (like trees, powerlines). The potential impacts from this system could be disruptive, so we are tracking it and will provide updates!

Light Snow Possible Friday

A strong disturbance will move through the area Friday, bringing most of central VA a good chance for light snow. The surface temperatures will range from 34 to 42 degrees as the snow falls, so aside from a light accumulation on grassy surfaces, the snow should melt on contact. The precip rates will be lower than last evening's snowfall, and the flakes will be smaller. The image above shows the upper-level pattern at 1 PM Friday. If you look closely, you'll see the state borders in white, and you'll notice a blob of yellow and orange in southwest Virginia. That "blob" is the upper-level vorticity maximum, and it creates strong atmospheric lift just ahead of it. This "vort max" will move through the upper-level long-wave trough, and will give central VA a period of strong lift and resultant periods of light snow, between 10 AM and 4 PM Friday. You can't always assume that a vort max such as this one will produce snow, but in tomorrow's case, the lift/moisture should be more than sufficient. -ZD

Snow Depth Thursday Morning

Even though much of yesterday's snowfall melted overnight in central Virginia, there was still just enough of it left on the grass and other elevated surfaces to see this Thursday morning. Here's the snow depth analysis for our region after yesterday's snowfall:

Here is a selection of submitted snow totals from central Virginia:
Haynesville (Richmond Co): 2.8"
Corbin (Caroline Co): 2.0"
Sandy Hook (Goochland Co): 2.0"
Newland (Richmond Co): 1.5"
Bon Air (Chesterfield Co): 1.2"
Midlothian (Chesterfield Co): 1.0"
City of Richmond: 1.0"
Cumberland Co: 1.0"
Mechanicsville (Hanover Co): 1.0"
Farmville (Prince Edward Co): 1.0"
Bumpass (Louisa Co): 1.0"

And here is the updated map of northern and western Virginia of the highest snowfall totals in our region: