![\"NWS](\"https:\/\/richmondcitywatch.com\/rvawx_test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/nws_forecast1-300x184.jpg\")
<\/a>If this event pans out, this would be our first observation of snow for the season. It could also be our first chance for accumulating snow as well. More discussion about this event is detailed below in the NWS extended discussion:<\/p>\n
.SHORT TERM \/6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT\/…
\nWINDS WILL SLOWLY SUBSIDE THIS EVENING AS PRES<\/a> GRADIENT<\/a>
\nSLACKENS…ALTHOUGH WILL STAY BREEZY ON THE ERN SHORE THROUGH THE
\nEVENING. OTHERWISE…HIGH PRESSURE SLIDES OFF THE COAST BY LATER
\nFRI AND THE REGION WILL RESIDE UNDER A MOSTLY CLEAR<\/a> SKY ONCE AGAIN
\nTHU NIGHT AND FRIDAY. EARLY MORNING LOW TEMPS SHOULD BE COLDER FRI
\nMORNING WITH READINGS IN THE MID 20S TO MID 30S AND HIGHS NEAR
\nNORMAL<\/a> IN THE UPPER 40S TO AROUND 50 FRI.<\/p>\nTHE NEXT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM<\/a> SLATED TO AFFECT THE MID ATLANTIC
\nSTATES WILL BEGIN TO DEVELOP IN THE GULF COAST STATES FRI NIGHT
\nAND TRACK NE TWD<\/a> THE REGION OVERNIGHT INTO EARLY SAT<\/a> MORNING. MID-
\nUPPER LEVEL<\/a> FLOW<\/a> IS FAIRLY PROGRESSIVE INITIALLY SO THE SFC<\/a> LOW
\nDOES NOT INTENSIFY THAT MUCH FRI NIGHT INTO SAT<\/a> MORNING.
\nHOWEVER…OVERRUNNING<\/a> PRECIP IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD ACROSS THE
\nREGION FROM SW TO NE EARLY SAT<\/a> MORNING. WHILE THERE IS THE LACK OF A
\nCOLD AIR WEDGE…TEMPS SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM FALLING NEAR
\nFREEZING BEFORE CLOUDS MOVE IN AND PREVENT THE ATMOSPHERE<\/a> FROM
\nCOOLING FURTHER. WITH THIS IN MIND…PRECIP MAY START AS ALL SNOW
\nIN FAR NW ZONES WITH A RAIN\/SNOW TRANSITION ZONE TO ALL RAIN OVER
\nSE AREAS. IT DOES LOOK RATHER LIGHT INITIALLY SO ACCUMULATIONS
\nWOULD BE LIGHT. PRECIP IS EXPECTED TO BECOME ALL RAIN BY LATE
\nMORNING AS TEMPS WARM WELL ABOVE FREEZING…BUT HAVE GONE BELOW
\nGUIDANCE FOR HIGHS…MAINLY 40-45…UPR<\/a> 40S TO LWR<\/a> 50S FAR SE
\nVA\/NE NC<\/a>.<\/p>\nTHE CHALLENGING PART OF THE FCST<\/a> COMES SAT<\/a> NIGHT…HOW FAST DOES
\nCOLDER AIR COME IN FROM THE NW AND HOW RAPIDLY DOES THE SFC<\/a> LOW
\nINTENSIFY? NOTE THAT LATEST 00Z ECMWF<\/a> SHOWS RAPID INTENSIFICATION
\nOF THE SFC<\/a> LOW AND KEEPS IT CLOSER TO THE COAST DUE TO MORE
\nAMPLIFICATION OF THE UPPER TROUGH<\/a>. THIS TRACK WOULD POTENTIALLY
\nLEAD TO SOME ACCUMULATING SNOW IN MAINLY NE PORTIONS OF THE CWA<\/a>. GFS<\/a>
\nIS WEAKER\/SLOWER TO BRING IN COLD AIR…AND THE SFC<\/a> LOW TRACKS
\nFARTHER OFF THE COAST W\/ LITTLE MORE THAN A SMALL CHC<\/a> FOR LIGHT
\nSNOW SHOWERS SAT<\/a> EVENING\/EARLY SUNDAY ACRS<\/a> MAINLY THE ERN SHORE.
\nTHE LATEST GFS<\/a> ENSEMBLE<\/a> SHOWS A LARGE SPREAD ON THE WEST SIDE OF
\nTHE GFS<\/a> TRACK SO THE ECMWF<\/a> MAY BE ON TO SOMETHING…SO FCST<\/a> WILL
\nTAKE THIS INTO ACCOUNT AND SIDE CLOSER TO THE COLDER SCENARIO.
\nGRIDDED FCST<\/a> HAS CHANGEOVER BY 00Z NW…TO THE COAST BY
\nMIDNIGHT…WHICH IS FAIRLY CLOSE TO THE 1295 M 1000-850 THICKNESS
\nVALUES FROM THE ECMWF<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A rather complex storm system may impact the area on Saturday (December 29, 2012) that could bring a mixed bag of precipitation, mostly in the form of rain. However, there is a chance of snow for the area, as noted in the current NWS forecast: If this event pans out, this would be our first … Continue reading December 29, 2012: Forecast for Snow to Rain<\/span>