Late October is usually a transition period climatically for Central Virginia. The leaves are near peak foliage and the first frost usually occurs by the end of the month. Just in time for Halloween, the first frost and even the first appearance of wintry precipitation have appeared! On Friday, a major east coast storm system (nor’easter) charged up the coast giving Church Hill approximately 1.10″ of rain. Prior to the bulk of the moisture arriving, some light sleet pellets were observed in downtown Richmond on my way home from work. The pellets only lasted for a few minutes, but it was an interesting event given that it is still October and the air temperature at the surface was 44 degrees!

Winter 2011-2012 Statistics for Church Hill:

First Wintry Precipitation for 2011-2012 Winter Season in Church Hill: October 28, 2011.

First Frost for 2011-2012 Winter Season in Church Hill: October 30, 2011 (31.9 Degrees).

Morning Lows from October 31, 2011: