The forecast has fluctuated in the last few days, but it looks increasingly unlikely that Charlottesville and Albemarle will avoid the snow headed our way. County schools are cancelled for Thursday—though city schools remain open as of 6:30am—and forecasters are warning locals to get ready for an ugly evening commute.
The National Weather Service upgraded yesterday’s winter storm watch for the area to a warning, in effect from 10am Thursday through 1am Friday. Steady rain is expected to become snow as temperatures drop from the low 40s to the low 30s around midday today, with the switchover complete by around 2pm.
Anywhere from 3 to 7 inches could fall during the day in the city, according to the NWS forecast—down from the more dire 9-plus called for Wednesday evening. Crozet’s forecast is the same, but the estimate for Scottsville is coming in a little narrower, at 4 to 8 inches.
NBC29 predicts wet, slushy accumulation that will start in non-paved areas, but warns that roads won’t be spared.
The snow will taper off into the evening, forecasters say, with up to three more inches falling, depending on where you are in the county. By the early hours of Friday morning, it will be over, and Friday will be fairly mild and sunny—so get your sledding in early.
Here’s the official rundown from the NWS for Charlottesville, Crozet, and Scottsville.
Charlottesville:
- Today – Rain before noon, then rain and snow between noon and 2pm, then snow after 2pm. High near 41. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
- Tonight – Snow, mainly before 10pm. Low around 26. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
- Friday – Sunny, with a high near 38. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Crozet:
- Today – Rain before noon, then rain and snow between noon and 2pm, then snow after 2pm. High near 41. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
- Tonight – Snow likely, mainly before 10pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 27. North wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
- Friday – Sunny, with a high near 39. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
Scottsville:
- Today – Rain before noon, then rain and snow between noon and 2pm, then snow after 2pm. Temperature falling to around 34 by 5pm. Calm wind becoming northeast around 6 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.
- Tonight – Snow, mainly before 10pm. Low around 25. Northwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
- Friday – Sunny, with a high near 39. Northwest wind around 7 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
WEDNESDAY, 1:30PM:
Only four days after last weekend’s 60-degree, spring-like sunshine, the National Weather Service issued a winter weather storm watch for the Charlottesville area. Cue the snow hysteria.
Beginning Thursday morning, rain, sleet, and snow are expected to fall, sometimes heavily, with an accumulation of up to nine inches.
According to the NWS, rain can can be expected Thursday before 9am, then several hours of snow, with temperatures falling to about 34 degrees by 5pm. Chance of precipitation is said to be 100 percent through Thursday evening, and snow will continue to fall through the late night hours.
Sounds like whatever accumulates might have a chance to stick around, too. NBC29‘s meteorologists say Friday will be drier with “seasonable temperatures” going into the weekend, and a cold blast of air is set to hit the area early next week.
