Tuesday morning update
On Tuesday, the polar plunge is dipping into the South and Southeast, dropping temperatures 20 to 25 degrees below normal.
Snowfall has been the big talker in parts of the New River Valley. Close to an inch has fallen in eastern Giles and Northern Montgomery County.
When you factor the cold and the gusty winds together, you get the frigid wind chill. The next several hours will feel like the single digits along the mountains and the teens across the Piedmont. Good news is that the winds slowly taper off through the day.
Arctic air retreats for the end of the week. Temperatures will warm back up near 40 degrees in the morning with afternoon highs in the 60s.
It has been abnormally to moderately dry for months now. There is no improvement in the latest drought monitor. This means the threat of fires continues until we get relief.
Some relief could come as early as this weekend thanks to another front pushing into the region. Light showers are likely while the majority of impacts stay to our north.
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Monday Evening Update
We have been chatting a lot about the cold air and wind chill numbers as a result of this arctic cold front, but we are now seeing snow flurries in the region along with the cold and blustery weather.
Futurecast shows that around 9 PM tonight, snow flurries will overtake the Highlands, New River Valley, and Roanoke Valley Zones.
By 11 PM tonight, the bulk of the snow will exit, but the Southside Zone will still have a few flurries remaining until 1 AM Tuesday.
We will see some light accumulation mainly across the Roanoke and New River Valleys. The Highland Zone will by far and away receive the bulk of the snow, reaching 3-6″ of accumulation along the western slopes of the WV mountains.
Be sure to stay weather-aware and plan extra time into your Tuesday morning commute as we could see some slick spots!
Monday Morning Update
Several folks across the region have seen some sporadic flurries, if not a dusting of snow, Monday morning!
The western slopes of the Blue Ridge are the only locations with significant accumulating snow, as the rest of the region won’t see too much more than a dusting at the most. Most of that will pass through Monday night, with bitterly cold temperatures by daybreak Tuesday.
That comes along with bitter temperatures throughout the area, and winds that will pick up as the day progresses. It’s reasonable to expect temperatures not getting above the mid-20s in the overnight hours on Monday night. Tuesday morning will feel just as, if not colder, than how Monday morning felt, so be sure you stay warm!
Sunday Evening Update
We have a mixed bag on radar this evening, with heavy showers in the Southside and Lynchburg Zones, and winter weather alerts going into effect this evening.
We have been talking about this cold front for the past few days, and the effects are already being seen!
While not everyone is getting wet, we have all had windy conditions throughout the day today. Wind speeds are now reaching anywhere from 20-30 MPH.
Now that this front has passed through, temperatures will fall rapidly. Tomorrow, scattered showers combined with this cold air will bring the chance of wintry precipitation. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Bland and Grayson Counties, and a Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Pocahontas and Greenbrier Counties in West Virginia.
In the higher elevations of Bland and Grayson, 1-3″ of mixed precipitation is possible, with higher amounts expected in Pocahontas and Greenbrier.
The bulk of the snowfall activity is looking to arrive around evening drive time on Monday. Again, areas that are not included in winter weather alerts will likely see no accumulation with little impact on travel.
Sunday Morning Update
As the cold front moves toward us, we will see some stray showers throughout the area ahead of it; mainly in Pittsylvania and Halifax counties as well as west of the Blue Ridge.
We will begin to see the temperatures drop once this cold front passes through. Behind it, some brief snow showers are possible, especially for areas in the higher elevations, but our best chance to see snow across the region will be Monday evening.
Areas in the foothills will not see a lot of snowfall, if any. The mountains could very well see some accumulation. Currently, there is a Winter Storm Warning for Greenbrier County, WV and a Winter Weather Advisory for Grayson County, VA until 7:00 AM Tuesday.
Greenbrier County can expect to see between 3-6″ and Grayson can see up to 3″ with some mixed precipitation; mountain tops have the potential to see more.
The main concern with this system is still the wind chill. This Arctic blast will have the capability of putting wind chill temperatures as low as the teens and in some places the single digits.
This means that the breezes coming through will be over 10 degrees colder than the actual temperature in some places, so be prepared to bundle up the next couple days!
Saturday Evening Update
A Weather Authority Alert Day has been issued for November 10 and 11 for an arctic air mass moving into the region.
This will be the coldest air of the season and the wind chill values will make it feel even cooler.
This Arctic air mass moves in behind a very strong cold front passing through late Sunday evening. It is one of 3 fronts moving through this weekend and keeping us on our toes weather-wise.
The coldest air of the season combined with gusty winds will bring wind chill numbers into the teens and single digits both Monday and Tuesday morning. Be sure to bundle up!
Even during the warmest part of the day Monday afternoon, many will still feel like they are in the teens and twenties.
Air temperatures Monday afternoon will be significantly below average, with some areas not getting out of the 20s.
Be sure to bundle up next week, check in on elderly neighbors, and make sure everyone is staying warm!