Sunday, March 27, 2011
Weather Update - Last Call
It is 6:30 Sunday morning and it is currently raining and sleeting in Richmond with temperatures at 35 degrees. Here is the timeline for the rest of today:
8 to 11 AM
Wintry mix of rain, sleet and wet snow. This will be the best chance to see big wet snow flakes. Temperatures will hover in the mid 30s and lower 30s across the entire area. The magic number is 35 degrees, which is usually the rain/snow line in these types of situations.
11 AM to 2 PM
Precip will quickly taper across the entire area. Temperatures will warm into the low 40s, which will melt most if not all of the snow. I’m expecting 1” or less across most of our area (click here for my latest accumulation forecast), with all snow sticking only on grassy surfaces and other things detached from the ground. Roads will remain wet but drivable.
8 to 11 AM
Wintry mix of rain, sleet and wet snow. This will be the best chance to see big wet snow flakes. Temperatures will hover in the mid 30s and lower 30s across the entire area. The magic number is 35 degrees, which is usually the rain/snow line in these types of situations.
11 AM to 2 PM
Precip will quickly taper across the entire area. Temperatures will warm into the low 40s, which will melt most if not all of the snow. I’m expecting 1” or less across most of our area (click here for my latest accumulation forecast), with all snow sticking only on grassy surfaces and other things detached from the ground. Roads will remain wet but drivable.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Weather Update - Saturday Afternoon
This is my latest forecast for the area. Again, there are no major changes. One thing to note - a lot of the snow will melt in the afternoon, so these numbers can be deceiving. Also, most of the accumulation will remain on grassy surfaces and other things detached from the ground. Temperatures will drop below freezing Monday night, though ground temperatures will remain well above freezing. Most of the major roads will remain wet, while untreated bridges and overpasses could become icy or dangerous.
Midnight to 4 AM
Rain with a few ice pellets will overspread central VA. It will be snowing in northwest VA.
4 AM to 10 AM
This will be the peak of the storm. Central VA will see cold rain and wet snow with a few ice pellets mixed in. It will be all snow for the northern half of the state.
10 AM to 2 PM
Precip will slowly taper - mix in central VA, rain farther south.
Here are several things to consider before this storm hits tonight and early tomorrow:
1) Duration of event
This storm system will race past the area, which will shrink the window of opportunity to see an accumulating snow. In fact, the best chances for Richmond to see an accumulating snow will be during the peak of the storm from 5 AM to 9 AM.
2) Intensity of precip
Most of the precip will be light to moderate, though we could see an occasional burst of rain or snow. This will also impact our accumulations.
3) Surface temperatures
Temperatures will hover around the freezing point in central VA during the peak of the storm (upper 20s in northern VA and mid 30s southern VA). Remember, the magic number is typically 35 for the rain/snow line. Most of the precip will be gone by early afternoon, so we could see temps rise to near 40, which will melt a lot of the snow.
4) Ground temperatures
Ground temps will remain well above freezing for the entire event. This means that most accumulations will stay on things detached from the ground: grassy surfaces, cars, rooftops. Ground temps will stay well above freezing Sunday night, so most roads should remain wet. However, bridges and overpasses could quickly become icy/dangerous.
Midnight to 4 AM
Rain with a few ice pellets will overspread central VA. It will be snowing in northwest VA.
4 AM to 10 AM
This will be the peak of the storm. Central VA will see cold rain and wet snow with a few ice pellets mixed in. It will be all snow for the northern half of the state.
10 AM to 2 PM
Precip will slowly taper - mix in central VA, rain farther south.
Here are several things to consider before this storm hits tonight and early tomorrow:
1) Duration of event
This storm system will race past the area, which will shrink the window of opportunity to see an accumulating snow. In fact, the best chances for Richmond to see an accumulating snow will be during the peak of the storm from 5 AM to 9 AM.
2) Intensity of precip
Most of the precip will be light to moderate, though we could see an occasional burst of rain or snow. This will also impact our accumulations.
3) Surface temperatures
Temperatures will hover around the freezing point in central VA during the peak of the storm (upper 20s in northern VA and mid 30s southern VA). Remember, the magic number is typically 35 for the rain/snow line. Most of the precip will be gone by early afternoon, so we could see temps rise to near 40, which will melt a lot of the snow.
4) Ground temperatures
Ground temps will remain well above freezing for the entire event. This means that most accumulations will stay on things detached from the ground: grassy surfaces, cars, rooftops. Ground temps will stay well above freezing Sunday night, so most roads should remain wet. However, bridges and overpasses could quickly become icy/dangerous.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)