As temperatures dip down into the 30s and 40s late this week – and into the 20s Saturday night – eastern Virginia is also expecting some winter weather.
Coastal Virginia may see some snow Friday through Saturday morning, but it’s unlikely to stick, according to Mike Rusnak, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
Rusnak said precipitation in the form of snow or a wintry mix may occur in the Williamsburg area but is more likely to turn into rain as Virginians travel down I-64 toward the Southside.
On Saturday night and Sunday morning, temperatures could drop to the mid-20s in Virginia Beach. Sunday’s highs will be around 43 degrees.
Although meteorologists have made an educated guess about this weekend’s forecast, Rusnak said the chance of wintry weather is still only 40 to 50 percent.
“There’s a chance of snow, but there’s also a lot of uncertainty right now,” Rusnak said. “It depends how close to the coast the low-pressure area develops. If it’s further offshore, the weather might just end up cloudy and cool.”
Water temperatures in the 40s and 50s around Virginia Beach and Norfolk generally keep the air temperature a little warmer than in the Williamsburg area, Rusnak said. The temperature difference could be one factor in whether the Southside gets rain or snow.
While Saturday night’s temperatures could get into the 20s, Rusnak said the freezing temperatures mixed with the rain or snow are unlikely to caused freezing roads.
“That’s a long shot right now,” he said.
With the chance of wintry weather this weekend, the Virginia Department of Transportation has also said it’s ready for the cold.
“We began preparing in October with equipment checks and dry runs,” said VDOT Hampton Roads District Administrator Jim Utterback. “We work to keep our salt domes and sand piles stocked and our pre-treatment supplies on hand for a quick and complete roll out.”
VDOT aims to clear all state-maintained roads within 48 hours of the last snowfall, the release said.
