Winter storm coming to Central Virginia, widespread power outages possible
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Central Virginians should start preparing now for a weekend winter storm that's expected to bring several inches of snow, freezing rain and dangerous ice accumulations, 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 above -- which reflects our team's estimations as of Thursday, Jan. 22 -- shows what types of precipitation are expected to fall in various parts of the state and how much.
The majority of the metro Richmond area is expected to see between 3 and 6 inches of snow, as well as up to a half-inch of ice.
LIST: Items to include in your car's emergency kit for winter weather
Those ice totals may not sound like a lot, StormTracker8 meteorologist Jessica Kirk cautions that an ice storm is a dangerous thing. It only takes one-fourth of an inch of ice to weigh down branches, trees and power lines -- meaning it's very likely that many in the region will lose power.
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.
