New Weather Satellite In Space

GOES-P was launched into space yesterday. Once it's positioned in orbit 22,300 miles in the sky, it will be renamed GOES-15. This new satellite will help us track storm systems and monitor climate by providing crucial surface and ocean temperatures.

Current Snowpack

Here's the latest plot of snow depth across the region. You can spot a couple patches of snow from the storm earlier this week - one near the Middle Peninsula and another farther to the southwest. You can find these plots at the following link:

http://www.nohrsc.nws.gov/interactive/html/map.html

Snow Winding Down

The wet snowfall from late Tuesday into early this morning is wrapping up in the state, with only lingering snow showers in the eastern Peninsulas along the Bay, and also in Southeast Virginia. All Winter Weather Advisories have expired. The low pressure system responsible for our wet snow will track away from our coast today, with only a slight chance for scattered flurries this afternoon in the eastern half of the state.

Most of the snow overnight melted on contact, especially on roads. But where the snowfall fell at a faster pace, it was able to accumulate on the grass and elevated objects, and even create slush on roads east of I-95. Here are some of the snowfall totals prior to melting:

White Stone 3.0"
Appomattox Co. 3.0"
Pittsylvania Co. 2.5"
Amelia Co. 2.0"
Nottoway Co. 1.5"
Powhatan 1.5"
New Kent 1.0"
Fishersville 1.0"
Waynesboro 0.5"
Stanley 0.5"
Henrico Co. 0.5"
Chesterfield Co. 0.5"
Goochland Co. 0.5"
Hanover Co. 0.5"
Massanutten Trace
Newland Dusting

Wednesday Morning Update

Wet snow continues to fall in much of Central Virginia early Wednesday morning, with the heaviest snow occurring east of I-95. Temperatures remained above freezing overnight nearly everywhere, which significantly reduced our potential for snowfall accumulation. The roads are wet in the area, with snow only sticking to the grass and elevated objects. Measuring snowfall accumulation in a storm like this is difficult because the snow in many cases melts on contact. However, snow totals have been up to 2" in parts of the area, with most of this melting down shortly after falling. Where the snow is still falling the heaviest at this time east of I-95 into the eastern Peninsulas, there may be 1"-2" of wet snow accumulation, and because the snowfall rate is higher in this area, roads are becoming slushy, but not snow-packed or icy. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for southeast Virginia until 9 a.m.

Snow showers and flurries will linger through the day, especially east of I-95 closer to the coastal low pressure system tracking to the northeast. Temperatures will remain above freezing today, though, which will also inhibit snowfall accumulation in the area.

Tuesday Noon Update

It's already snowing at this time along I-81 and east into parts of Albemarle, Greene, and Madison Counties at Noon. You can see traffic cameras here to see the snow falling in that part of the state. Rain showers will gradually overspread the rest of Central Virginia this afternoon, then mix with and changeover to snow this evening before Midnight. Because surface temperatures will remain above freezing in most locations overnight, roads will remain wet, with wet snow accumulation on the grass and other elevated surfaces. Most of the area will receive a trace up to an inch of snow accumulation. However, we are expecting a narrow band of higher totals to occur overnight, likely from south-central Virginia in between I-85 and I-95 south of Petersburg, possibly as far northeast as Hampton Roads. Even here, though, accumulation will not stick to the roads, but may reduce visibilities when the heavy snow falls overnight into early Wednesday morning. Snow flurries and showers will linger in the region Wednesday afternoon, but not lead to additional accumulation.

Weather Update Tuesday Morning

A low pressure storm system is currently tracking along the Gulf Coast of the Florida panhandle, with the storm's strong upper low moving through the Southeast U.S. Rain is expanding into South Carolina this morning from Georgia, and will continue to head northeast toward Central Virginia this afternoon. Rain is expected to mix with wet snow tonight, before completely changing over to snow around Midnight tonight. However, because surface temperatures will remain above freezing in the area overnight and tomorrow, the only accumulation possible will be on grass and elevated surfaces. Most snowfall totals will be low, generally an inch or less. But some locations in Central Virginia, especially east and southeast of Petersburg, may see a band of heavier snow overnight into early Wednesday morning which may produce a couple inches of wet snowfall. Roads will remain wet in the area, not icy or snow-covered, and whatever snow does accumulate will not stick around for long as high temperatures rise to around 40 degrees Wednesday. At this time, no watches, warnings, or advisories have been issued for Central Virginia.