Winter storm coming to Central Virginia, widespread power outages expected
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Central Virginians should start preparing now for a weekend winter storm that's expected to bring snow, freezing rain and dangerous ice accumulation, which could potentially cause widespread power outages.
An arctic front is expected to bring wintry weather to Central Virginia starting on Saturday, Jan. 24.
Our StormTracker8 team is expecting that this system will bring some snow to the region at the start, but this will become sleet and freezing rain in the early morning hours of Sunday, Jan. 25. This freezing rain will quickly freeze into ice.
The map below -- which reflects our team's estimations as of Wednesday, Jan. 21 -- shows what types of precipitation are expected to fall in various parts of the state. The area marked in pink is where this freezing rain is anticipated to hit, which includes the majority of Central Virginia.
StormTracker8 meteorologist Jessica Kirk said that an ice storm is a dangerous thing. While it's too soon to give more specifics on accumulations of either snow or ice, she cautioned that it only takes one-fourth of an inch of ice to weigh down power lines -- meaning it's very likely that many in the region will lose power.
LIST: Items to include in your car's emergency kit for winter weather
Especially given the fact that temperatures are expected to stay below freezing for at least a few days after the freezing rain stops falling, Central Virginians should start preparing now for substantial disruptions to their day-to-day lives.
This means ensuring you're stocked on essential groceries -- but don't panic and empty the shelves! You should ensure you have either candles or flashlights with fresh batteries on hand and that, if you're planning to use a generator, it's in good working order.
You can find further tips on how to prepare for wintry weather here.
Our StormTracker8 team continues to track this system. More updates will be provided when possible.
For the most up-to-date weather alerts, click here or visit our StormTracker8 weather page.
