US National Weather Service Wakefield VA 1-19-16

Good Morning! After a cold, dry day today, and potentially a period of light snow or flurries tomorrow night, attention will turn to the well-advertised storm system currently over the Pacific Northwest. We are still expecting this system to develop rapidly over the Plains states late tonight through Thursday, before heading in our direction Thursday night. There remain considerable model differences and while there are some that have begun to speculate on accumulations, it’s simply too early to do so at this time. We’ve included the favored WPC forecast track below, which includes a blended model solution. Here’s the latest thinking:

• Precipitation will begin as a period of snow (or wintry mix (sleet/snow) along the coast) Late Thursday night/early Friday Morning.

• A changeover to rain is expected over much of our southeast coast early in the day on Friday, with a gradual transition to mainly rain/sleet for much of our area through the midday hours on Friday.

• As is usually the case, if a changeover does occur over our far northwest Piedmont VA counties, it will be later in the day Friday or Friday night. Potential still exists for a significant accumulating snowfall in the north/northwest portion of our forecast area.

• A changeover back to all snow can be expected early Saturday behind the departing system.

• Strong winds can be expected throughout the storm, highest along the immediate coast.

• A period of minor to moderate coastal flooding is likely by later Friday through Saturday night.

• Please continue to monitor the forecast through the next few days. We will continue to keep you updated as the storm takes shape.