See also: “Youngkin says Southwest Virginia facing ‘all-hands moment’ as another storm approaches”
A band of light to moderate snow is expected to lay down a couple or three inches, give or take a little, over a large part of Virginia’s western, central and southern sections on Wednesday before intensifying into a heavier snowstorm for Richmond and Hampton Roads with half-foot or greater amounts possible there in the afternoon and evening.
A second band of light snow overnight Wednesday and early Thursday may double early totals in some of the southwest corner of the state and add up to an inch farther east across much of western and central Virginia.
The one-two punch of light to moderate snow could have become a foot-plus snowstorm for a large part of the commonwealth had the two upper-level shortwaves linked their wind energy in a process called phasing, but instead they are remaining mostly separate, sparing parts of Southwest and Southside Virginia blasted by flooding and ice a third major wintry scourge in eight days.
Wednesday’s snow should remain mostly a passing inconvenience or a quick infusion of joy, depending on one’s outlook on snow, except over the southeast corner of Virginia generally along and east of a line from South Hill to Richmond to Tappahannock. As a low-pressure system deepens just off the coast of the Carolinas, snowfall is expected to intensify over that section with many locations getting 6 inches or more and some possibly topping 10.
The northernmost tip of Virginia, including the Washington D.C., area, is expected to see the least snow, and could possibly even miss Wednesday’s snow altogether with it passing just south.
Most of the rest of central and western Virginia appeared poised to get amounts ranging from 1 to 4 inches, though the two rounds of snow might total more than 4 inches in some parts of the southwest corner in counties that were most affected by weekend flooding. Also, some parts of Southside and central Virginia just west of the heavier snow area to the east could go over 4 inches.
As is always the case with snow events, there are various factors at work that could slightly decrease or increase snow totals. Difficult to forecast dry slots and heavier bands could lower or raise totals in narrow strips compared to surrounding areas.
Whatever happens with snow on Wednesday, Arctic air will be in firm control the remainder of this week, with single digits and teens lows Thursday and Friday mornings with highs only in the 20s and 30s over most of Virginia. Temperatures gradually warm over the weekend, with 50s likely into next week, and no further significant precipitation expected through at least the middle of next week.
Journalist Kevin Myatt has been writing about weather for 20 years. His weekly column, appearing on Wednesdays, is sponsored by Oakey’s, a family-run, locally-owned funeral home with locations throughout the Roanoke Valley. Sign up for his weekly newsletter:
