Click below for a link to my snow observations from home or work since 2009. I’ll work on something a little easier to keep updated shortly.
December 9, 2018: Observations
Franconia Farm Storm Observation Summary:
* Place – Time: Franconia Road, (12/9/2018)
* Temperature: 30-32, During Event
* Winter Weather Watch/Warning/Advisory: Watch & Warning
* Closings: All local school districts were closed on 12/9, Chesterfield County Government was closed on 12/9.
* Predicted Totals: 1-4″ the day before the storm. Between 6-12″ the morning of the storm.
* Road Conditions: All roads had substantial snow accumulation on them by midday on 12/9.
* Precipitation Description: Snow. Snow began around 7:30 AM . Snow transitioned to gropel and snow flurries around 8 PM before ending.
* Total Precipitation: 13.25″ of snow. 11.5″ of snow was reported at the Richmond airport. Locally heavier snow to the south and west of Richmond.
* Comments: A complex storm system tracked across the lower portion of the country, including a multi-phased low-pressure system that transitioned from the Gulf Coast to a low-pressure system off the South and North Carolina coasts. The low-pressure system then tracked ENE into the Atlantic Ocean, causing snow to overspread into Central Virginia. Snow was light to moderate for the until 2-3 PM. Two very heavy snow bands moved in during the afternoon and evening hours. Between 6:26 PM and 6:56 PM, we got 2.5″ of snow, which equates to over 3″ an hour! Reports of lightening and thunder snow were reported in Richmond my brother, David. Snow tapered off by 9 PM on Sunday night (12/9).
Snow impacted Oklahoma up to northern Virginia. This storm was known as “Diego” by TWC . Impacts in western Virginia and North Carolina were extreme, where totals ranged between 1 – 2 feet of snow.
Snowfall Totals & Records:
Photos & Videos
December 9, 2018: Forecast
Diego was a major winter storm that developed off the coast of California the week of December 3rd. The storm traveled across the southern tier of the country and redeveloped along the Gulf Coast on December 8th. By Sunday, it regenerated off the Carolina coast, pushing copious amounts of moisture and wintry precipitation into North Carolina and Virginia. It’s track closely followed a “Miller A” type setup for a winter storm.
In retrospect, the majority of folks forecasting this event underestimated the amount of snow Central Virginia would receive. Days before the event, snow totals were quite low. The NWS out of Wakefield only significantly increased snow totals on the morning of the 9th. A progression of the snowfall forecast is shown below:
Watches and warnings posted on Saturday, December 8th:
By the morning of the 9th, Winter Storm Warnings were issued for the watch areas. The NWS forecast for Richmond the morning of the event.
The winter storm warning language:
March 3-4, 2016: Rain/Snow to Snow, then Rain?
NWS Forecast from 3/2/16
An quick brush with a coastal low developing off the North Carolina coast will bring the possibility for rain changing to snow to Central Virginia overnight on 3/3 into 3/4. Rain, mixing with and changing to snow, could bring accumulating snow to Metro Richmond. A winter storm watch and warning have been issued for most of Richmond. Snow amounts from 3-6″ are projected from Richmond south to the Tri-Cities. Snowfall will need to be heavy to provide forecasted accumulations. Snow will likely change back to rain by 10 AM (should moisture still be present).
NWS Forecast on the Evening of 3/3/16.
February 15, 2016: Observations
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NWS Forecast on 2/15/16
Church Hill Storm Observation Summary:
* Place – Time: Church Hill, (2/15/2016)
* Temperature: 23-, During Event
* Winter Weather Watch/Warning/Advisory: Watch & Advisory
* Closings: All local school districts were closed on 2/15, Chesterfield County Government was also closed on 2/15.
* Predicted Totals: Between 2-3″ before the storm. NWS updated to 2-4″ the morning of the event.
* Road Conditions: All roads had substantial snow and ice accumulation on them.
* Precipitation Description: Snow, sleet and freezing rain. Snow began around 4:00 AM. Snow transitioned to sleet and light freezing drizzle around 10:30 AM.
* Total Precipitation: 1.25″ of snow with minor icing occurring from about 10:30 AM until 5 PM in the afternoon. 1.4″ of snow was reported at the Richmond airport.
* Comments: Snow began in the early morning hours with about a 0.5″ accumulating on all surfaces by 8 AM. Snow changed to sleet and freezing drizzle at around 10:30 AM. The system eventually transitioned to rain by 5 PM.
Snowfall Totals: None Available.
Photo Gallery:
February 15, 2016: Forecast for Snow, Ice to Rain
A multi-part storm will impact central Virginia on February 15th. A winter storm watch was issued on February 13th. It was converted to a winter weather advisory on February 14th. Consensus is building on the models to have snow fall overnight on the 14-15th, transition to sleet and freezing rain by noon and to rain by the afternoon.
NWS Forecast Graphic on 2/13/16
NWS Forecast Graphic on 2/14/16
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
354 AM EST SUN FEB 14 2016VAZ064>068-511-513-515-141700-
/O.UPG.KAKQ.WS.A.0002.160215T0600Z-160216T0500Z/
/O.NEW.KAKQ.WW.Y.0005.160215T0500Z-160216T0000Z/
CAROLINE-MECKLENBURG-LUNENBURG-NOTTOWAY-AMELIA-WESTERN HANOVER-
WESTERN CHESTERFIELD-WESTERN HENRICO-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…SOUTH HILL…CREWE…ASHLAND…
MIDLOTHIAN…BON AIR…RICHMOND
354 AM EST SUN FEB 14 2016…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO
7 PM EST MONDAY…THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA WHICH IS
IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 7 PM EST MONDAY. THE WINTER
STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.* AREAS AFFECTED: CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA.
* HAZARDS: SNOW…SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN.
* ACCUMULATIONS: TWO TO THREE INCHES OF SNOW…AND UP TO ONE TENTH OF
AN INCH OF ICE.* TEMPERATURES: LOWS SUNDAY NIGHT AROUND 20. HIGHS LATE MONDAY IN
THE MID 30S.* TIMING: SNOW OVERSPREADING THE AREA LATE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO
EARLY MONDAY MORNING…THEN CONTINUING THROUGH THE MORNING
HOURS MONDAY. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CHANGE TO SLEET AND
FREEZING RAIN LATE MONDAY MORNING OR EARLY AFTERNOON…THEN
EVENTUALLY RAIN THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON AND MONDAY EVENING.* IMPACTS: HAZARDOUS TRAVEL DUE TO SNOW AND ICE COVERED ROADS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW…SLEET…OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.
February 10,2016: Observation
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We woke up on the morning of 2/10/2016 to find a light dusting of snow on most surfaces. An arctic front following a decent sized snow event for Hampton Roads brought us a quick dusting during the early morning hours (4-6 AM).
Church Hill Storm Observation Summary:
* Place – Time: Church Hill, (1/20/2016)
* Temperature: Unknown (Vantage Pro 2 Malfunction)
* Winter Weather Watch/Warning/Advisory: None
* Closings: N/A
* Predicted Totals: None.
* Road Conditions: Light snow accumulations on pavement. Accidents due to snow reported around the area.
* Precipitation Description: Snow, which began at 4:00 AM and ended around 6:00 AM.
* Total Precipitation: 0.1″ of snow. 0.4″ of snow was reported at the Richmond airport.
* Comments: An arctic front brought a surprise batch of moisture through the area, mainly from Richmond to the north and east (Northern Neck).
January 22-23, 2016: Observations
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Church Hill Storm Observation Summary:
* Place – Time: Church Hill, (1/22 – 1/23/2016)
* Temperature: 26-28, During Event
* Winter Weather Watch/Warning/Advisory: Watch & Warning
* Closings: All local school districts were closed on 1/22, 1-25 thru 1/27, Chesterfield County Government was closed on 1/22 & 1/25-26.
* Predicted Totals: Between 7-14″ before and the morning of the storm.
* Road Conditions: All roads had substantial snow and ice accumulation on them.
* Precipitation Description: Snow and sleet. Snow began around 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM on 1/22. Snow transitioned to sleet around 5:30-6 PM on 1/22. Snow began once again around 7 AM on 1/23.
* Total Precipitation: 12.5″ of snow and sleet (5″ snow to 1.5″ of sleet to 6″ of snow). Measurements ranged from 10-18″ around the block. High winds caused drifting, with snow banks between 2-3′ tall. Sleet provided compaction to the snow depth. 11.4″ of snow was reported at the Richmond airport. This was the 11th highest storm total at the Richmond airport.Locally heavier snow to the north of Richmond.
* Comments: A complex storm system tracked across the country, including a multi-phased low-pressure system that transitioned to a low-pressure system off the North Carolina coast. The low-pressure system then tracked north to the Chesapeake Bay, causing snow in Central Virginia (and as far west as Lynchburg & Charlottesville) to transition to sleet. Heavy sleet and a dry slot occurred the night of 1/22 into 1/23. The morning of 1/23, precipitation redeveloped along a deformation band stretching along I-95 from NC to Washington DC. The snow fell moderate to heavy from 11 AM to 6 PM. Wind gusts from 30-45 MPH (43 MPH at the airport) caused near blizzard conditions during the afternoon. Snow tapered off by 10 PM on 1/23.
Snow impacted Arkansas up to southern New England. This storm was known as “Jonas” by TWC and the Blizzard of 2016 in other news outlets. Impacts in DC to NYC were extreme, where totals exceeded 2′ of snow.
Snowfall Totals:
NWS Preliminary Snowfall Estimates
Another NWS Graphic of snow totals.
Photo Gallery:
Videos:
Richmond All-Time Snowfall Records
Courtesy of the NWS
January 22-23, 2016: Snow to Sleet to Snow?
NWS Forecast – Day of Event
A major storm in now on it’s way with the expected development of a coastal low off the Carolina coast later today, impacting the area from Friday morning into Saturday night. The system is expected to bring period of heavy snow, sleet and possibly freezing rain to Richmond. Models latched on to a storm threat since last weekend (January 16th-17th) and have continually shown a winter storm that will impact most of Virginia and a good portion of the Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and North East. Snow totals to the north and west of Richmond are expected to exceed 2′ in spots. The storm is taking on characteristics (intensity and snowfall) of the Snowmaggedon (2/2010) and 96′ Blizzard. Snow totals in Richmond will be highly dependent on the amount of sleet that falls Saturday night. Models have varied snow from 5-6″ upwards of 20-24″.
NWS Forecast Snow Totals (1/22/16)