Some areas of the Richmond region could receive a half-foot of snow or more from a winter storm that vexed meteorologists’ computer models with forecasts from a dusting to 2 feet as people prepared for Christmas.
Meteorologist Lyle Alexander with the National Weather Service in Wakefield said the Richmond area can expect snowfall through this evening with accumulations of 4 to 6 inches, and more toward the coast. The heaviest snowfall should fall between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. today, he said.
The weather service issued a winter-storm watch for much of the central Virginia region Saturday morning, and Gov. Bob McDonnell declared a state of emergency in the afternoon to allow state resources, including the Virginia National Guard, to be readied.
The weather service forecast deeper snow — up to a foot or more — with winds gusting in excess of 40 mph along the coast in southeastern Virginia and on the Eastern Shore.
Last night, Richmond-area police departments reported few weather-related problems. But road conditions could become increasingly difficult as snow accumulates, thaws and refreezes, creating icy patches, Virginia Department of Transportation officials said.
“We’re encouraging drivers ... to use extreme caution; temperatures will be below freezing,” VDOT spokeswoman Dawn Eischen said.
VDOT crews will plow the interstates and primary roads after an inch of snow accumulates on the roads. VDOT had pre-treated those roads with anti-icing chemicals. Crews also applied sand and salt to highly traveled roads for better vehicle traction and to melt ice.
Eischen warned drivers to especially beware of icy conditions on bridges, overpasses and ramps.
Airlines canceled 14 flights — 13 of them were Delta — to and from Richmond International Airport, spokesman Troy Bell said.
Air travelers should check the status of their flights before heading to the airport, but the volume of snow forecast is expected to cause few problems, he said.
Amtrak announced Saturday afternoon that it canceled several train routes on its Northeast Regional Service south of Washington through today because of the worsening weather, including several between Richmond and Newport News with no alternate trains.
Historically, it is rare for the Richmond region to get a white Christmas, according to the weather service. Since 1897, measurable snowfall has happened only 7 percent of the time, with the most in 1914 at 5.4 inches.
“Several pieces of energy from different parts of North America had to converge over the coastal waters south of the Carolina coast to put this storm together,” the weather service’s Alexander said. “It’s been a difficult storm to forecast.”
The snow could linger for several days before warmer weather midweek in the 40s melts it, the weather service said.
The last Christmas snow came in 1993, when one-tenth of an inch fell.
If "white Christmas" means having snow on the ground that day, then the Richmond area had one a year ago. Five to 14 inches fell Dec. 18-19, and some was still here on the 25th.
cyoung@timesdispatch.com
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