2008.03.29
You've got to be kidding -- freezing rain?
The combination of cold air damming along the mountains and moisture overrunning that cold air near the surface has led the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center to mark a small area of western Virginia for low risk of a quarter-inch of ice through Sunday evening. Temperatures tonight will fall into the 30s and struggle mightily to reach 40 on Sunday. It's a little late in the season for there to be much in the way of freezing rain, but some is possible, and a few colder locales could get enough for some significant icing ... though I think the 1/4-inch possiblility is probably a stretch except maybe at some high ridgetop elevation. If the precipitation comes down hard enough on Sunday morning, there could even be some sleet or possibly wet snow mixed with the rain. The best chance of seeing wintry precipitation on Sunday extends along and north of U.S. 460, which would put the Roanoke and New River valleys at the southern edge of potential mix, though I think most areas will probably just get a cold rain with maybe a few ice pellets. At the best, Sunday looks like a raw, chilly early spring day.
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Well, I'm a little late posting this, but wanted to get it in. I'm writing about today's weather in West Salem. I woke up at six this AM to a pretty heavy rain shower, it lasted just a few minutes. Then I got up at 7:30 to find ice on my deck! Looked like about a quarter inch, if not more! I think it was sleet, the temp was 38. The temp stayed between 38 & 40, and some of the ice was still on the deck two hours later! Up to 42 now at 11:30, no ice left.
Comment by Dennis — March 30, 2008 @ 11:33 am
Hi, Kevin;
We've been below freezing since about 5 a.m., light rain has frozen to everything not directly on the ground. Forsythia was in full bloom but now will be history. Daffodils also not happy with the ice. I measured .10 accretion. I'll email some pics later. Noticed NWS has decided to go 10 days early with frost/freeze warnings due to early start of the growing season. It figures.
Comment by Julie — March 30, 2008 @ 1:44 pm