Soaking Rain Showers

A good, soaking rain will continue to track northeast through Central Virginia today as an upper-level storm system passes overhead. Totals should run about a quarter of an inch or less, but this is still welcome rainfall as Richmond is now about 1.5" below average for the month. We'll have another round of rain this weekend as a large storm system approaches from the west. Here is the infrared satellite image Wednesday morning with the two storms depicted:

The second storm over the Western U.S. has a history of already producing severe weather out west, and this system is expected to bring strong to potentially severe thunderstorms to Central Virginia by Sunday.

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.