FREEZING RAIN

We trades 60s and 70s Wednesday for 30s and 40s Thursday

A glaze of ice is possible on elevated surfaces mainly south of US 460 Monday

February starts off cold and with a pair of storm systems to track through the weekend

The worst of the weather Friday into Saturday will be east of Interstate 95.

Get the shovels and/or ice scrapers ready for Sunday and Monday morning

Significant snow totals and mixed precipitation produce messy road conditions and possible power outages

It's too soon to talk exact totals, but Sunday's weather looks disruptive across much of the area.

Hourly temperature planner for Monday, 3/15/2021As the air cools at the surface, more rain will move in from the west. Temperatures may be just cool enough for patches of freezing rain in areas west of the Parkway throughout the overnight. St. Patrick's Day Planner - 2021Most of the day is spent dry, but we have to watch a very strong storm system emerging from the Rockies. Rain impacts for the week of 3/15-3/19/2021Rounds of light rain will linger on the backside of the storm Friday. Roles reversed for the first day of winter vs. the first day of springIn fact, it could even be cooler than the first day of winter was!

Most of us start out with a slice of sunshine before a dollop of clouds later in the day. The same storm system that’s given snow to the Rockies and severe weather in the Plains will weaken considerably before arriving here. We’ll thaw out by St. Paddy’s Day with afternoon temperatures reaching the 60s and the possibility of late day showers. St. Patrick's Day Planner - 2021Another strong storm system will emerge from the Rockies. The wind around it will be strong, which could fuel some thunderstorm development late Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

Wednesday was just what the doctor ordered, as temperatures reached levels they hadn’t reached since Thanksgiving! We’ll chill out a bit Thursday, with afternoon temperatures ranging from the lower 50s in the New River Valley to the lower 60s in Southside. This includes the Highlands, New River Valley and higher elevations of Roanoke County. This kicks off a pattern of wet weather that will last through Monday, as multiple disturbances ride along a front nearby. What we're tracking starting the final weekend of FebruaryThankfully, it won’t be wet all 48 hours this weekend.

FutureTracker - 5 a.m. ThursdayWarmer air a few thousand feet above will move in from the southwest and make freezing rain the dominant precipitation type through at least midday Thursday. Assuming that freezing rain is the dominant precipitation type most of the day Thursday, here’s how to prepare for outages. Higher totals will be possible in areas hit hardest by Saturday’s storm, delaying recovery from both damage and power outages. Snow/sleet totals for late Wednesday night and Thursday morningKeep in mind this would come before any freezing rain. While this may not lead to power outages, it will certainly make for icy and messy travel.

ROANOKE, Va. – Watch the video below for Jeff’s 9;50 p.m. weather update:Jeff's 2.16.21 forecast update Winter storm watches are in effect from tomorrow evening through Thursday PM. High temperature forecast for Tuesday, 2/16/2021Next Winter StormCome late Wednesday night and Thursday, we’re tracking yet another wintry mess. High pressure to the north will keep cold air trapped at the surface, while a storm system rises from the south. FutureTracker - midnight ThursdayWe may start with just enough cold air above to create snow and sleet in areas near and north of US 460. By late Thursday night and Friday morning, our storm system will have moved to the northeast.

ROANOKE, Va. – Yet another winter storm is moving through southwest and central Virginia Saturday. This time, freezing rain is the main concern. Your Local Weather Authority has an updated timeline of the storm here. Send us your pictures, videos, etc.

While roads may improve a bit beyond the morning, we will still have to watch for slick spots throughout the day. TimingAs another storm system moves in from the south, this sets the stage for another round of freezing rain after 6 or 7 a.m. Saturday. AdFutureTracker - 10 a.m. SaturdayAs a southeast wind begins, we should start to see any freezing rain change to a chilly rain in parts of Grayson, Wythe, Carroll, Pulaski and Bland Counties by midday or early afternoon. Moving ForwardWe’ll start with slick/icy spots Valentine’s Day morning and temperatures near freezing. We’re once again looking at the chance for freezing rain and rain Tuesday morning.

FutureTracker - 2 p.m. ThursdayAs colder air seeps farther south, we gradually start to see things changing over. FutureTracker - 7 p.m. ThursdayAs the night wanes on, we’ll notice that wintry mix creep farther to the south. So, it will rain longest the farther south you go before changing over to some freezing rain and sleet. That’s where we expect mostly rain before changing over to freezing rain. Freezing rain potential increasing for Saturday, 2/13/2021We’ll be mostly dry and in the 40s Valentine’s Day, before another wintry mix potential arrives late Monday night into Tuesday of next week.

We won’t see weather like that for quite some time, as we’re stuck in quite the repetitive pattern moving forward. Snow is more likely in Pocahontas, Bath and Highland Counties, with an icy mix possible in Alleghany and Rockbridge Counties. If the temperature is 33° or above up top, then we see a mix of freezing rain and sleet develop. Snow map for Wednesday night through Friday morning as of Wednesday, 2/10/2021Farther south of that, you see less snow. AdStorm threats - Thursday (2/11) to Friday (2/12)The Pattern BeyondWe get a break Friday afternoon, but there are indications of another rain/freezing rain mix coming our way Saturday and perhaps next Tuesday as well.

Zone forecast for Tuesday afternoon, 2/9/2021While we’re at it, let’s keep it up with some more good news (for most of you). Sunset tracker for Tuesday, 2/9/2021Now, if we could break out of this repetitive and messy wintry pattern, that would be helpful too. FutureTracker - overnight Wednesday into early Thursday morningAs moisture continues to ride in with a developing storm system, cold air slowly wedges itself up against the Appalachian Mountains late Thursday into Thursday night. AdPrecipitation types based on air temperatureEarly forecast data continues to keep the bulk of cold air (from top to bottom) pinned north of here. Expected precipitation types Thursday evening into Friday morningPlease keep checking back for updates on the forecast.

Out the door Monday morning - 2/8/2021Throughout the week, we’ll have Arctic air to our north and fairly cool air to our south. High temperature forecast for Monday, 2/8/2021As high pressure moves east, however, low level moisture sneaks in at night. Low temperature forecast for Tuesday morning, 2/9/2021Once that moves out, we’re warmer Tuesday afternoon with most of us around 50-55°. AdFutureTracker - late Wednesday night and early Thursday morningThe more pronounced storm system comes in late Thursday into Thursday night. What we're tracking for Thursday, 2/11/2021Keep checking back for updates as we go throughout the week and get more refined and detailed forecast data.

ROANOKE, Va. – * Winter Storm alerts are in effect for a large portion of the 10 News viewing area. Regardless, an impactful and significant winter storm is likely in parts of our area Wednesday due to snow and ice. TimingThis event starts between 5 and 7 a.m. Wednesday south of U.S. 460 as a combination of snow and ice (snow closer to 460 and ice farther south). More snow will accumulate closer to I-64, with totals dropping off farther south. Ice accumulation forecast for Wednesday, 12/16/2020At 0.25″ of ice accretion, damage starts to happen.

A winter storm is likely by Wednesday with snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain all on the table. If it tracks farther north, then we get a mixed bag of every type of precipitation. How different types of precipitation formGiven recent forecast data, snow and freezing rain begin as soon as sunrise Wednesday. FutureTracker - midday WednesdayThe farther north you go, the more snow you get because that’s where the coldest air hangs on longest. Then, you start to see the sharp cutoff in snow totals going farther south and east, where more mixed precipitation is likely.