Although today (Saturday) will be unsettled, it won’t be a complete washout. Some showers are moving through SE VA and NE NC as I write this but we should see some breaks in the rainfall today. A northeast wind will keep it on the cool side today. The frontal system that is causing our wet weather is part of a larger system that has brought an ice storm to parts of the Midwest. Forecasters expect drier conditions on Sunday, but clouds will most likely stick around. We might see some sunshine at times on Sunday. On Monday, clouds will likely dominate the skies again. But guess what? On Tuesday, when many of us go back to work, temperatures are expected to soar into the low 60’s and there should be more sunshine. The above normal temperatures seem likely to hold through the remainder of the workweek.

We are approaching the time of year when, on average, temperatures are the lowest. The average high temperature for Norfolk is now 48 degrees. In a few weeks, average temperatures will start to rise again as the atmosphere responds to the increasing amount of solar radiation. Days have begun to get longer and the sun is slowly getting higher in the sky with each passing day. It’s a very slow process now, but as we head into February, the process accelerates with each passing day. Those are some hopeful thoughts for those of you who don’t like winter.

Parts of California have received tremendous amounts of rain and snow this past week putting a dent in the long-term drought that they’ve been enduring.

That’s it for now. Thanks for reading and have a great day!

The low pressure system that brought the wintry precipitation to the Hampton Roads/NE NC region is now in the Canadian Maritimes. The pressure gradient between this low pressure system and an approaching Arctic high pressure area currently centered in the Mississippi Valley will result in strong northwesterly winds today (Sunday).  Temperatures this morning were in the teens in Southside Hampton Roads and they probably won’t get out of the 20’s today. Snow cover effectively reflects the sunlight back to space limiting how much heat can be absorbed. Tonight, lighter winds, snow cover, and clear skies will produce ideal conditions for radiational cooling, which should cause temperatures to drop to near record levels in some spots. The record low for Monday morning in Norfolk is 11 degrees but we should stay about that by just a few degrees. Monday will be another very chilly day but there will be less wind. Then, the warm-up begins in earnest. We should get into the 40’s on Tuesday and then on Wednesday high temperatures should be well into the 50’s. Highs in the 60’s are possible Thursday and Friday! So, the bottom line is that there won’t be too much melting today despite the sunshine. Significant melting is expected to begin on Tuesday.

California is bracing for one of the wettest periods in many years. Flooding rains and heavy mountain snows are likely over the next several days as a “river” of moisture heads in from the Pacific Ocean. This will hopefully put a dent in the ongoing drought conditions. Snow in the mountains will be measured in feet!

That’s it for now. Stay safe out there!

First of all, Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2017 brings you good health and prosperity.

If you’re off from work today (2 Jan), it is a good day to stay in bed for a while this morning with the dreary conditions. Rain will continue for a good part of today, but there may be breaks later on. Some of the rain could be moderate to heavy at times, so if you are traveling, be on the lookout for standing water on the area roadways. Tonight should be more of a drizzle/light rain situation. Fog may also be an issue in spots. On Tuesday, rain will again be possible, especially in the morning. In the afternoon, forecasters are saying that we should see a reduction in the areal coverage of the rain and there may be just some showers in spots. Temperatures are expected to be above normal on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we should dry out and it could turn out to be quite nice for early January. A colder air mass is expected to arrive later in the week. There is a lot of uncertainty in the extended forecast. Some computer models indicate that parts of Virginia could see a mix of frozen precipitation later in the week so stay tuned.

That’s it for now. Thanks for reading and have a great day!