RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Clouds will build in bringing us partly to mostly cloudy skies overnight. We’ll see a low of 34, with winds shifting from west early this evening to north at 4-8mph.
By Sunday morning, a rain system that is currently in the Houston area will reach Richmond. Colder air sweeps in as this system makes a run at us. The bulk of this system stays well to our south, and remains rain. Where it gets tricky is that the northern edge of this looks like it will reach us, while also encountering that colder air. Upper level air where this precipitation is being formed is certainly cold enough for snow development, but the lower levels of the atmosphere and temperatures at the ground won’t be. It is cold enough to produce snow in the upper atmosphere, it’s just a matter of what happens to it on the way down.
The temperature profile of our atmosphere will allow most, if not all of it, to melt into rain on the way down, meaning rain by the time it reaches the ground. Some of it may fall as a light rain/snow mix, and a few of us could even see some light flurries. However, as I also mentioned, the ground temperature staying above freezing will not allow it to accumulate. We can expect the chance for a light cold rain/wintry mix, with the chance for a few snowflakes mixed in. The system clears and brings all of the moisture with it by 1pm—ending our precipitation chances. After 1pm, we’ll gradually be clearing skies out, and see a high of 42. Skies will be completely clear overnight and we’ll drop to the low 20s.
Monday we’ve got sunny skies and pretty chilly temperatures, with a high near freezing. Lows drop into the teens. Tuesday will be about the same, with sunshine and a high of 34. Wednesday brings mostly sunny skies and a high of 40. Signs point to a few flurries Wednesday night—not accumulating to anything more than a light dusting. Thursday we’ve got sunshine and low 40s as well. We’re closely watching a system for Friday and Saturday of next week that could bring us our first shot at any sort of real winter weather event. Signs point to a rain event changing over to snow—that remains to be determined at this point.
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