A winter storm warning has been issued for most of Virginia and portions of West Virginia with the possibility of up to 10 inches of snow.
It’s time to break out the sleds, shovels, salt, hot chocolate, gloves and toboggans, as the first major snowfall of the season is headed our way.
The warning is in effect from 10 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday. Forecasters are predicting anywhere from four to 10 inches for the region. In Waynesboro, AccuWeather is predicting six to 10 inches of snow with a 51 percent probability in that range.
Heavy mixed precipitation is expected throughout the region. Ice accumulation up to two tenths of an inch is also possible.
The warning was issued for portions of central, northwest and western Virginia and eastern West Virginia including the counties of Augusta, Rockingham, Nelson, Albemarle, Greene, Madison, Orange, Spotsylvania and Highland. The warning also includes regions of Northern Virginia, Blue Ridge-Central Virginia, Blue Ridge-Western and in West Virginia, it includes Pendleton County.
Hazardous conditions are likely on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes.
Winter storm warning: Other parts of the state
Portions of Southwest Virginia are expected to see total snow and sleet accumulations of three to six inches. Ice of up to two tenths of an inch is possible with higher amounts possible along the Blue Ridge. The storm will likely impact this region from 6 a.m. Tuesday to noon on Wednesday.
In eastern Louisa, Fluvanna, Goochland, western Hanover and western Louisa counties, four to seven inches of snow is possible. The advisory runs from 8 a.m. Tuesday to 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
In east central, eastern and northern central Virginia, four to seven inches of snow is expected. A light glaze of ice is also possible. The warning is in effect from 10 a.m. Tuesday to 10 a.m. Wednesday in Richmond and surrounding counties.
Upcoming weather pattern
Snow, ice and rain is likely throughout the week in Virginia with a second storm likely on Wednesday or Thursday, and a third storm possible over the weekend. Early estimates are that these will likely be rain events, however, some freezing rain may be mixed in.
AccuWeather predicts a busy weather pattern ahead in the seven to 14-day period following storm number three.
“We are concerned about colder weather returning after storm number three,” said Thomas Kines, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather. “If the colder air does return, we might have to deal with another round of snow.”
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For the latest information, search “weather” on Augusta Free Press.
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Crystal Graham
