Kevin Myatt

Some Virginia stations may see the coldest Christmas since the 1980s, a sharp contrast with last year’s record Christmas warmth. Snow cover probably won’t be widespread, though.

Chilly temperatures are a near-certainty for the Christmas season in Virginia. Snow could develop with a couple of wiggles in the atmospheric flow.

For most of Southwest and Southside Virginia, it will be a cold but substantial rain with no ice, but not far north of our region, a winter storm watch has been issued in northwest Virginia.

Developing atmospheric patterns in northern latitudes correlate with some of Virginia’s most memorable winter periods. But for Virginia to have its greatest chance of snow, another high-pressure system needs to form over western North America, and it’s not there yet.

As the Mississippi River reveals relics and Lake Mead gives up its dead, most of Southwest and Southside Virginia is in the 18% of the nation not considered abnormally dry.

The Old Dominion is thankfully spared the massive Buffalo-sized piles, but the Great Lakes do spray some snow into the commonwealth on occasion.

Snow totals can vary dramatically one winter to another in Southwest and Southside Virginia. Enter the first Cardinal Weather snowfall contest to see if you can guess this year’s totals.

Expect a soaking rain of 1 to 4 inches over much of Virginia on Friday before January-like temperatures set in by late weekend into next week.

Don’t get used to the November warmth, as chilly morning lows return by Wednesday and next week may be downright winterlike.