StormTracker8: Significant Impacts Expected from Snow and Ice

RICHMOND, Va (WRIC) -- We have the latest details on this weekend's winter storm. Enjoy today, because it will be the last "nice" day we have for awhile!

Tomorrow, temperatures will drop into the 40s for highs as the arctic air mass takes over. Saturday morning, we will plunge to the teens and 20s and stay there all day.

Saturday afternoon, snow is expected to begin. All of Central Virginia is forecast to receive snow Saturday evening.

Saturday night into Sunday morning, the snow will transition into sleet, first for locations near the VA/NC line, then for folks further north. Later Sunday morning, the sleet will transition into freezing rain. There are times when we will be dealing with multiple types of precipitation at the same time.

Sunday, the main form of precipitation is expected to be freezing rain. This will be detrimental to power lines. It only takes 1/4 an inch of ice accumulation to cause power interruptions, and 1/2 an inch of ice accumulation can cause numerous power outages for days. Both of these scenarios are on the table for Central Virginia.

If the forecast trends more towards sleet, this would be good news for the power outage situation. We would likely see a smaller impact to power outages, but a potentially larger impact to roads and hard surfaces. It would be like an ice rink.

Sunday overnight into Monday, the freezing rain will wrap. Monday, we will see clearing skies, but extremely dangerous conditions. Temperatures will not climb above freezing for days.