Monthly Archives: March 2015

Observation, Winter Weather

March 5, 2015: Observations

Church Hill Storm Observation Summary:
* Place – Time: Church Hill, (3/5/2015)
* Temperature: 28-34, During Event
* Winter Weather Watch/Warning/Advisory: Advisory
* Closings: All local school districts were closed on 3/5 and 3/6, Chesterfield County Government closed early on 3/5 and a 2-hour delay on 3/6.
* Predicted Totals: Between 2-3″ and 1-2″ the day before and day of the event.
* Road Conditions: All roads had snow and ice accumulation on them.
* Precipitation Description: Sleet, which began at 11:30 AM on 3/5, ended around 8 PM on 3/5.
* Total Precipitation: 0.5″ of snow. 0.3″ of snow was reported at the Richmond airport. Locally heavier snow to the north and west of Richmond.
* Comments: An arctic front crossed the region during the early morning hours of 3/5. Rain transitioned to sleet and freezing rain for several hours in the early afternoon. Precipitation transitioned to snow for the last hour of precipitation, dropping a 0.3-0.4″ of snow on top of the sleet accumulation. The temperature plunged to 15.7 degrees the following morning on 3/6.

Snowfall Totals:

NWS Snow Totals for 3/5/15 Event
NWS Snow Totals for 3/5/15 Event

Photo Gallery:

Observation

March 1, 2015: Observations

Church Hill Storm Observation Summary:
* Place – Time: Church Hill, (3/1/2015)
* Temperature: 27-32, During Event
* Winter Weather Watch/Warning/Advisory: Advisory
* Closings: None.
* Predicted Totals: Less than ¼”.
* Road Conditions: Minor accumulation on roads. Roads were mainly wet during the event.
* Precipitation Description: Sleet and Freezing Rain/Drizzle, which began around 10:00 AM on 3/1 and ended around 5 PM that afternoon. Sleet quickly changed to all freezing rain/rain by 11 AM.
* Total Precipitation: 0.03″ of primarily freezing rain. 0.16″ of precipitation was reported at the Richmond airport. A system overriding a recent cold surge into the Virginia Piedmont created a minor ice event for the Richmond metro area. Elevated surfaces and trees accumulated the most ice. A winter storm advisory was issued the evening before the event to notify residents of minor ice accumulations. No major power outages were associated with this storm.

Photo Gallery:

Forecast Discussion

March 1, 2015: Ice to Rain?

NWS Forecast, 3/1/2015
NWS Forecast, 3/1/2015
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
532 AM EST SUN MAR 1 2015

VAZ070>076-079-080-083-011845-
/O.CON.KAKQ.WW.Y.0007.000000T0000Z-150301T2100Z/
CHESTERFIELD-HENRICO-KING WILLIAM-KING AND QUEEN-ESSEX-
WESTMORELAND-RICHMOND-BRUNSWICK-DINWIDDIE-NEW KENT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COLONIAL HEIGHTS...RICHMOND...
TAPPAHANNOCK...LAWRENCEVILLE
532 AM EST SUN MAR 1 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON.

* AREAS AFFECTED: PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VIRGINIA.

* HAZARDS: PRIMARILY SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN.

* ACCUMULATIONS: LITTLE OR NO SNOW ACCUMULATION. A TRACE TO LESS
  THAN ONE TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION.

* TEMPERATURES: STARTING IN THE MID 20S EARLY THIS MORNING...
  THEN RISING INTO THE LOWER TO MID 30S THIS AFTERNOON.

* TIMING: LIGHT SNOW AND SLEET BECOMING SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN
  LATER THIS MORNING...THEN TRANSITIONING TO ALL RAIN DURING THE
  AFTERNOON HOURS.

* IMPACTS: HAZARDOUS TRAVEL DUE TO ICE COVERED ROADS...BRIDGES
  AND OVERPASSES.

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.

&&

$$