Winter Weather Brief #1 - 2/25 AM

Good morning RVA!
 
Here is your OEM Weather Brief #1 for the impending snow tonight into Thursday. In addition, the current forecasted total snowfall map and timeline of expected temperatures/snow is located at the end of the brief.

Once the snow begins to fall overnight, the City’s Snow Plowing Status Map will go live and you can access it here: https://richssl.ci.richmond.va.us/applications/GIS/snowmap/   

Advisories/Watches/Warnings:

 

• A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from 7pm tonight until 1pm tomorrow.

Hazard: Snow; currently 3-4 inches is forecasted.

Wind Speed: Winds will remain steady and minimal (under 10ph) through the duration of the storm.

Temperatures:

• Wednesday Night
• Low: 26
• Thursday
• High: 34
• Low: 18

Timing: Snow is forecasted to begin around 10pm tonight and will begin to exit the area during the early to mid-morning hours of Thursday.

City impact: With the snow falling overnight into the mid-morning hours, there will be high potential for any morning commute issues around and coming into the city – especially on secondary streets. Please take this into consideration for any travel you may need to take tomorrow morning. You can help us keep RVAers safe by checking in on neighbors, especially seniors and those with access and functional needs.

 

 

Winter Weather Brief #3 - 2/16 AM

Good morning – here is Winter Weather Brief #3 for the city.
 
Below is a summary of the impending winter storm in addition to the current forecasted total snowfall map and hourly weather graph, respectively.

 

Advisories/Watches/Warnings:

·         Winter Storm Warning: effective 2/16 – 4pm until 2/17 – 12pm

 

Hazards: Snow; forecasted amounts have risen to 8-10 inches. Isolated spots that see a heavier band or two of snow throughout the city may see more.

 

Temperatures:

·         Monday

o   High: 21

o   Low: 18

·         Tuesday

o   High: 29

o   Low: 19

 

Timing: Precipitation is still on track to begin in the late afternoon hours today – 2/16 and come to an end around the mid-to-late morning hours on 2/17.

City impacts: With the snow falling in the evening/overnight into the mid-morning hours, there will be high potential for traffic/travel issues to include any morning commute around and coming into the city. Please take this into consideration for any travel that you may have to make in the city. The power outage number (from the high wind event) has decreased to currently 789 for the city, and Dominion Power’s expectation is that all customers will be restored by the end of today – 2/16. New power outages are possible with the heavy snowfall and consistent below-freezing temperatures. Additionally, high temperatures for each day are not forecasted to reach above freezing until at least Saturday – 2/21 at this point.

 

 

Winter Weather Brief #2 - 2/15 PM

Good evening – here is Winter Weather Brief #2. 

Below is a summary of the impending winter storm in addition to the current forecasted total snowfall map and hourly weather graph, respectively. 

Advisories/Watches/Warnings:

·         Winter Storm Watch: effective 2/16 – 4pm until 2/17 – 12pm

o   We expect this to be upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning as we move into tomorrow

Hazards: Snow; forecasted amounts have risen to 6-8 inches. Isolated spots may see more than this amount.

Temperatures:

·         Monday

o   High: 21

o   Low: 19

·         Tuesday

o   High: 28

o   Low: 21

Timing: Precipitation is still on track to begin in the early evening hours tomorrow – 2/16 and come to an end around 12pm on 2/17. There will be the potential for additional snow showers during the evening of 2/17 as well.

City impacts: With the snow falling in the evening/overnight into the mid-morning hours, there will be high potential for any morning commute issues around and coming into the city. Please take this into consideration if you have to make any travel. The power outage number has decreased to 2,594 currently for the city, and Dominion Power’s expectation remains that some customers will have outages beyond today; this next round of winter weather could increase that outage number.

Winter Weather Brief #1 - 2/15 AM

Below is a quick summary of the excepted winter storm to impact the City of Richmond.

 Advisories/Watches/Warnings:

• Wind Chill Advisory expired at 10am today
• Wind Advisory is set to expire at 4pm today
• There will be the potential for a Winter Weather Advisory or Winter Storm Watch to be issued for the city

Hazards: Snow; currently 2-3 inches is forecasted. However, morning models are hinting towards an increase in that number – especially with the high confidence of below-freezing temperatures through the duration of the storm.

Temperatures:

Monday
o   High: 23; Low: 20

Tuesday
o   High: 30; Low: 21

Timing: Snow is forecasted to begin around 5pm tomorrow – 2/16 and come to an end around 12pm on 2/17. There will be the potential for additional snow showers during the evening of 2/17 as well.

City impacts: With the snow falling overnight into the mid-morning hours, there will be high potential for any morning commute issues around and coming into the city. The power outage number (from the high winds last night) is currently at 3,793 for the city, and Dominion Power’s expectation is that some customers will have outages beyond today; this next round of winter weather could increase that outage number. Additionally, high temperatures for each day are not forecasted to reach above freezing until at least Friday.

 

 

Winter Preparedness Week 2014

Winter officially begins on December 21st, but with the recent drop in temperatures it is a good reminder to all that it is time to think about colder weather.  Preparing for all seasons make sense, by having food, water, and first aid at minimum for a complete list visit ready.gov. Consider checking your emergency supply kit seasonally to ensure no food and water is getting ready to expire. Check that all electronics and batteries, even the backups, are working.

Additional Items to Consider for Winter Weather

•  Rock salt or other ice melt products
• Warm clothes
•  Extra blankets
• Sand for traction on ice
• Snow shovels
•  Heating fuel, store a supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood stove

It is important to understand the dangers of driving during winter storms. Many deaths and injuries are a result of traffic accidents.

Most importantly keep yourself safe during winter weather. Do not to overwork yourself when shoveling snow, as this can result in a heart attack. Also be aware of the signs of symptoms of hypothermia which can be a result of spending too much time in the cold. Visit the CDC's Winter Weather FAQ's for the signs and symptoms of Hypothermia as well as other cold-related illnesses. 

If a Disaster Occurred Tomorrow, Would You Be Ready?

The City of Richmond Office of Emergency Management, in support of National Preparedness Month, is partnering with Target at 7107 Forest Hill Avenue Richmond 23225 to host an outreach event open to all residents on Saturday, September 13^th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. There will be food, giveaways and information on becoming prepared. Representatives from Richmond Police, Fire, 911-Communications, Ambulance Authority and the American Red Cross will join the Office of Emergency Management. Event attendees can join in the nationwide preparedness conversation by tagging images they post on social media with #NatlPrep.

Sponsored annually by the Federal Emergency Management Agency September is designated as National Preparedness Month. This whole community-based initiative aims to educate and empower citizens to prepare for and respond to all types of hazards, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. This year’s preparedness slogan is ‘Be Disaster Aware and Take Action to Prepare’.

National Preparedness Month is a time to prepare yourself and those in your care for emergencies and disasters, both large and small. Emergencies can happen unexpectedly in communities like Richmond. Tornadoes, river and flash floods, snowstorms, an earthquake, and even widespread power outages have impacted Richmond and often can last for many days.

As commendable as they may be in their profession of assisting those in need, public safety officials may not always be able to reach residents quickly in an emergency or disaster. In order to assist public safety officials and the community, residents are encouraged to prepare their homes and families to be self sufficient for at minimum 72 hours following an incident.  Do not forget to include in the preparedness discussions and planning any loved ones that may rely on outside care for their daily needs. The more residents who are prepared, the quicker the whole community will recover.

Early Season Hurricane Threats

In June of 1972, the first named storm of the season developed over the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Agnes would impact the area as a tropical depression causing $222 million dollars worth of damage in Virginia alone. Agnes caused the James River to Crest at 36.5 feet and inundated the water supply for the City and most critical infrastructure. Agnes remains a storm of record for Richmond and much of Virginia.

Path of Hurricane Agnes 

As many on the East Coast embrace for this year’s first named storm Arthur, it is a good time to remember that hurricanes can form anytime between June 1st and November 30th. Typically Virginia experiences hurricanes later in the season; Agnes and Arthur serve as a reminder that this is not always true. It is important to prepare yourself before the start of hurricane season.

River flooding from Agnes 

Remember to make a plan for your family. Hurricanes come with advance warning so take that time to prepare, have a family communications plan, and take into consideration family members that may rely on you for additional support. Check your emergency kit to make sure you have enough food and water for your family, and don’t forget pets too. Check flashlights, radios, and batteries to make sure they are in working order. You may want to fill up your vehicle with fuel as power outages can render gas stations inoperable. Don’t forget to have cash on hand as after a disaster stores may offer goods but are only able to accept cash due to power outages. Lastly, remember to pay attention to local forecasts and follow official shelter in place or evacuation orders, as hurricane tracks and intensity change frequently. The City of Richmond has a partnership with WRIR 97.3 FM to provide timely and accurate warnings when a threat is imminent or occurring.