It appears that Hampton Roads is in for a good soaking rain Saturday night and early Sunday morning as a low pressure system moves just south of our region. Rainfall amounts will be lighter to our north. The system should be out of here later on Sunday so conditions should slowly improve. For the first time in quite a while I don’t see any major warm-ups on the way during the forecast period. Temperatures should average around normal or just a little above normal over the next few days. There is still no sign of any real frigid air moving into our neck of the woods any time soon. Will we ever see an extended period of below normal temperatures this winter? If it doesn’t happen soon, time is going to be running out. The coldest time of year on average has already passed which means that the average temperatures have now begun to slowly climb… If you are wondering whether any area in the northern hemisphere is experiencing real winter weather, parts of Russia and Europe are in the grips of some very frigid and snowy weather. Alaska has also had its share of some very cold weather this winter season. So, while we have been enjoying a mild winter, it has not been mild everywhere.

The first part of this week will be cool and sunny with no significant precipitation expected. Temperatures will rise to above normal levels by mid-week.  As it looks now, the next chance of precipitation will be on Thursday and then again on the weekend. However, there is a lot of uncertainty in the extended forecast… As January comes to a close this week, we have to wonder what February will bring. Will there be continuation of the mild weather? It would be quite exceptional if February turned out like January.

By January standards, this will be a fairly nice weekend with temperatures approaching the 60 degree mark on Saturday. A cold front moves through late Saturday which will make for a cooler Sunday. Sunshine is expected both days. The frontal system that moved across Hampton Roads on Friday brought about six tenths of an inch of rainfall to my backyard. No significant rain is expected for a few days. Monday will be a chilly day but a warm-up is expected by mid-week… There is still no sign of sustained cold weather here in the Mid-Atlantic states. We are right now in the coldest time of the year on average. So, in about a week, our average temperatures will begin to climb at first slowly reaching a peak in late July. That’s it for now. Have a great day and enjoy the nice weather this weekend.

The current weather map shows a high pressure system over northern New England which is producing a north to northeasterly flow off of the Atlantic Ocean. Clouds will dominate the skies on Sunday and there may even be some light drizzle at times. Temperatures will stay in the 40′s throughout the day. The total rainfall in my backyard was around three quarters of an inch. A storm system will be developing well to our southwest and this system will be tracking towards the Great Lakes on Monday. It will first drag a warm front through Hampton Roads followed by a cold front. As a result, rain chances will increase on Monday. This system may produce severe weather (including tornadoes) in the Southern Plains states.  Temperatures will also be much warmer as a southerly wind out ahead of the frontal system will bring up warmer air from the south. Tuesday will be another mild day with more sunshine as the frontal system moves away. Temperatures should be cooler on Wednesday. The forecast for later in the week depends on the possible development of another low pressure system to our southwest. That’s it for now. Thanks for reading and have a great day.

It’s been a while since Hampton Roads has had significant rain on the weekend. We had some rain overnight and more is on the way this afternoon as a cold front slides into the region. Areas to our north are seeing some sleet and freezing rain. Further to the north, snow is falling. This will not be a major snowstorm for the Northeast, but it is the first significant snowfall since the Halloween snowstorm. Temperatures will be relatively mild today ahead of the cold front. Once the cold front moves through, winds will switch first to the NW and then to the N and N-NE making Sunday a raw and chilly day. Drizzle is possible at times on Sunday. Temperatures warm up on Monday only to fall once again on Tuesday as another cold front moves through. Rain chances go back up on Monday. I’ll have a look at the extended forecast in my Sunday morning post. I’ll also have the rainfall total for my backyard from Saturday’s rain.