Snowstorm to remember

UPDATE: As of late Fri evening, very dry air -low dew points giving the snow a difficult time, but reports of flakes starting to fly south.  Main event for RIC and this part of the state Saturday, with southside Virginia hitting the snow jackpot more than the rest of us.

This will be a memorable snowstorm for the southern half of Virginia.  We all know by now that heavy snow will combine with very cold temperatures Saturday to produce totalsclose to or exceeding a foot  over the southeastern part of the state…a rare event for sure.

For metro Richmond and surrounding counties, look for 8-10″ with up to a foot possible south of I-64, and lower amounts north of I-64.  Points just 30 or so miles north of Richmond will see substantially less.  Points south of metro Richmond, generally south of the Tri-Cities area, could see as much as 14″ .

Timing for the heaviest snow rates will be from about mid-morning through mid-afternoon Saturday, with rates of over an inch/hour likely.

Temperatures will be memorable as well, with daytime highs falling into the teens !

* Jim Duncan

Major Winter Storm UPDATE

UPDATE posted 1:52pm: All new guidance is in and digested. Think we could hit the high end of our range, i.e. around 10″ metro Ric, heavier south.  Over a foot possible southern areas, between Emporia north to southern Chesterfield.  High temps Sat only around 20ish early then falling during the afternoon…could be in the 16-18 degree range with heavy snow mid-afternoon.  One word…WOW.

Sure looking like a major winter storm still on track for central Virginia and points south, with lesser amounts just to the north.

NBC12 weather team tweaking snow totals as I write this, with finishing touches on the predictions later today.

Still VERY cold Saturday, with heavy snow, certainly a rarity around here during any winter.

Updates later, so stay tuned!

* Jim Duncan