VIRGINIA — A developing storm system could bring accumulating snow to parts of Virginia late Sunday into Monday, depending on how the system tracks and whether enough cold air is in place.
AccuWeather forecasters say the storm, currently off the coast of British Columbia, is expected to move south across California on Thursday, then push through the Rockies on Friday and the central United States on Saturday before approaching the East Coast.
While major Northeast cities such as New York and Boston are watching for significant snowfall, Virginia’s impact will hinge on two key factors: the availability of cold air and the storm’s path as it reaches the Mid-Atlantic.
Meteorologists caution that there is still uncertainty in the forecast. For snow to fall across much of Virginia, especially central and eastern portions of the state, temperatures must be cold enough from the surface upward. Without sufficient cold air, precipitation could fall as rain or a mix of rain and snow.
If the storm tracks inland, it would likely draw warmer air northward, increasing the chance of rain across eastern and southern Virginia. However, if the system moves just off the Atlantic coast, colder air could remain in place, raising the potential for accumulating snow, particularly in northern and western parts of the state.
Forecasters also note that several rounds of precipitation — including rain, ice and snow — are expected across portions of the central and eastern United States before the weekend system arrives.
Residents across Virginia are encouraged to monitor updated forecasts over the coming days as meteorologists refine details on the storm’s track, timing and precipitation type.
