Weather Authority Alert Day lifted

ROANOKE, Va. – The Weather Authority Alert Day issued for Friday, January 12, 2024, has been lifted.

Friday Afternoon Update

Rain is moving in from southwest to northeast this afternoon and evening, so that may throw a wrench into your weekend plans.

Once the rain leaves between 9 and 11 p.m., the wind will gradually pick up into the weekend. You may need to factor in the potential for sporadic power outages.

Friday Morning Update

Showers hold off until the mid-afternoon. Once they arrive storms are not too far away. Most storms develop between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM.

The system moves further to the north and east as the evening continues. Most of us are dry after midnight with winds picking up right after.

The storm threat is lower than it was yesterday, but some Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are possible in Southside.

Storms are the most likely threat in the later half of the day. Flooding is possible as well, but storms have a better chance with this system than they did on Tuesday.

While flooding is still a possibility, recent data is pointing to less total accumulation. Some minor flooding can occur, but the main flood threat extends from Northern Virginia to New England.

Thursday Night Update

Thursday Afternoon Update

See an update from Meteorologist Marshall Downing below.

Our next system is still hours away, but once it arrives it will bring some strength. Be ready for showers to spread out after 4:00 p.m. with consistent rain by 5:00 p.m.

Through 7:00 p.m. the rainfall rates get more intense with the potential for storms and even some flooding.

We start drying out after 10:00 p.m. with only a few cells left by midnight. The system moves out leaving us mostly dry on Saturday.

Rain totals are likely highest from Nelson County south towards Henry County. Accumulations for most stay below an inch with even lower amounts in the northern part of the NRV.

The storm potential is limited for now, but there is a Level 2 risk in parts of Southside. Anywhere east of I-81 could get some storms so be prepared for high wind gusts and lightning.

The flood risk prompted a Flood Watch that lasts through the afternoon and evening on Friday. If you need to get out earlier you have some time, but try to be home and settled by 2:00 p.m.

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Like clockwork, the greater forces in the atmosphere are sending another system our way. This one mainly stays as rain as opposed to snow, but the next one has a better chance for severe weather than even Tuesday had.

Friday starts rather calm, but as the afternoon continues, showers build in from the southwest. Most of us are dry until after 3:00 PM.

Rain spreads north and east with heavy amounts through the late afternoon into the evening. While this rain is not as heavy as Tuesday’s we have an environment that is still prone to flooding.

The severe weather threat in Southside will mainly be between the hours of 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Friday.

We start to dry out in the last hours of Friday with some lingering storms in Southside and Lynchburg.

We dry out after midnight with only a few showers left into Saturday morning.

Thanks to recent rain, ice and snow we have a higher flood risk than we’ve seen the last few months.

Areas along our southern border especially in Southside are vulnerable to more floods through Friday night.

This system brings strong storms through the south. For us the best chance of storms stays in Southside, but that could spread further north and west.

The main flood risk on Friday is again in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, but we are in a Level 1 risk meaning flooding is still possible. Keep checking in with us as the system gets closer for more flooding updates.

Rain is likely heaviest in those flood prone areas to the south. Accumulations west of I-81 stay under an inch with more than two inches possible around Martinsville.

Download our weather app here for more information on the forecast moving forward.

Beyond Friday, the wind will get cranking Saturday. Gusts of 30 to 50 mph will be responsible for sporadic tree limb damage and/or power outages.

We’ll track a blast of Arctic air next week that could result in a little snow next Tuesday.

Let’s get through one storm system at a time before we get too bogged down in the details.