Weather

Nothing close to the “Superstorm” of 30 years ago is on the horizon, but some colder temperatures are back after a warm late February.

As the warmest February on record concludes in Southwest and Southside Virginia, far-flung signals point to a late-arriving wintry period toward the middle of March.

It was as hot as 83 in Mecklenburg County even though 80s were not quite as widespread as originally expected in a February warmth surge that still rearranged record books in Southwest and Southside Virginia.

Record high temperatures topping 80 for many in Southwest and Southside Virginia will stir spring fever, but chilly weekend rain renews the reality that even an underachieving winter isn’t finished yet.

Sunday snowfall was limited to a narrow strip. A historically snowless winter is on the table for many Southwest and Southside Virginia locations, but that table can still be shaken by mercurial March.

This isn’t the snowstorm you were looking for, or dreading, depending on your view of snow, but winter will make a play on Sunday that could bring some slushy, sleety accumulation to parts of our region.

An upper-level low and a brief window of cold air amid a mild pattern may bring weekend snow in parts of Southwest and Southside Virginia, but for anything significant or widespread, a lot has to come together with little margin for variation.

Arctic air is headed south for the weekend, but it will be short-lived. Chances for significant snow look slim for Southwest and Southside Virginia in the next few days with a milder pattern likely resuming afterward.

The persistent southeast U.S. ridge of the La Niña atmospheric pattern has swatted cold air masses and winter storm systems away since Christmas. There might be at least a temporary change as the rodent rises next week.

Enough colder air has returned for some sleet and freezing rain mainly in western Virginia on Sunday morning, with snow showers possible in the mountains on Monday.