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Weather Authority Alert Day lifted

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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.

The power outages risk will be sporadic through Martin Luther King weekend.

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.

Showers spread out in the mid-afternoon

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.

After 9:00 PM our system moves further east

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

Southside has the best potential for storms

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.

Storms are most likely to cause problems late on Friday

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.

Floods are most likely to our northeast

Thursday Night Update

WATCH LIVE | APPCAST

A Weather Authority Alert Day is in effect for Friday. Jeff Haniewich WSLS 10 News will let you know what threats are ahead and if all inclement weather will be gone for your weekend.

Posted by WSLS 10 / WSLS.com on Thursday, January 11, 2024

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.

Showers spread east in the late afternoon

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

Rain is consistent and widespread by Friday evening.

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.

Some storms are possible close to midnight, but much of the system moves on.

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.

Rain totals are less impressive than last Tuesday.

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.

Storms are possible on our southeastern edge.

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.

Flooding is possible through much of Friday.
If you need to get outside on Friday try to make it early.

[DOWNLOAD OUR APP to stay on top of the latest radar and alerts.]

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.

Showers begin in the mid-afternoon.

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.

Rainfall is heavy and widespread through the evening.

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

Rain is still strong but begins moving out before midnight.

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.

Flood chances are highest in our southernmost counties

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 Level 2 risk clips Southside as of Wednesday afternoon.

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.

A flood risk, while lower than Tuesday, extends from Georgia to Massachusetts.

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.

Rain totals are highest in Southside yet again

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.

Wind gusts range between 30 and 50 mph Saturday.

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

A blast of Arctic air could also produce snow next Tuesday.

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


About the Authors
Parker Beasley headshot

Parker was born and raised in central Florida. He first became interested in the weather at a young age when Hurricane Charlie passed directly over his house on August 13th, 2004. Since that day, he knew he wanted to be a Meteorologist.

Jeff Haniewich headshot

Chief Meteorologist Jeff Haniewich is an American Meteorological Society (AMS) Certified Broadcaster, forecasting weather conditions in southwest Virginia on WSLS 10 News at 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m. every weekday.

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