(Posted 5:30 pm)
- Overview: A strong cold front will move through late tonight into tomorrow...the first of two to effect the area over the next several days. Northwesterly winds will pick up behind it ushering very cold Canadian air which will allow temperatures to drop during the afternoon hours.. Although a bit limited in moisture, upslope snow will break out across the western facing upslope areas and continue throughout the day. Although isolated, there will be enough instability for a few squalls to make it east of the initial mountain ridges. Temperatures will remain quite cold Friday and Saturday with a reinforcing shot of even colder air arriving Saturday night. This will bring additional snow accumulations to western mountain areas. Sunday looks to be the coldest with highs struggling to make it out of the teens in western portions of Virginia with 20s elsewhere followed by near record low temperatures Sunday night. Gusty winds throughout the entire period will lead to very dangerous wind-chills. Take any necessary precautions..(frozen pipes...outdoor animals...kids at bus stops...etc).
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| Low Temperatures Sunday Night...Likely our Coldest (depicted from gfs via wxbell) |
First things first....Thurday's frontal passage and upslope snow potential:
- Timing: Snow showers break out across the West Virginian mountains around midnight and continue through the day Thursday. The best window for areas east of there will be sunrise through early evening.
- Impacts: Outside the obvious impacts of accumulating snow across the western facing upslope areas...any squalls that squeak east of there have potential to produce quick bursts of visibility-lowering, moderate snow. It's hard to pinpoint exactly where these squalls may make it over the initial mountains...but the New River Valley and far western portions of the northern Shenandoah Valley are usually good candidates under this setup. With that said, I can't rule out a rain or snow shower making it into the piedmont east of the Blue Ridge.
- Thoughts for a few select locations:
- Winchester/Harrisonburg/Staunton/Roanoke: A few flurries...may see a quick hitting more moderate snow shower...not expecting accumulation
- Blacksburg/Hillsville/Bristol: Snow showers at times...maybe a quick coating
- Charlottesville/Richmond/DC: Slight chance for flurries/sprinkles
- Snowshoe/Canaan Valley/Beckley: Snow much of the day...3-6" likely
- Wise/Bluefield/Charleston: On and off snow showers...1-3"
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| Total Snow Forecast Through Thursday Night...Additional accumulations expected this weekend |
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