RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Punxsutawney Phil may have announced an early spring , but parts of Virginia could see snow this weekend.
According to 8News Chief Meteorologist John Bernier, a strong Alberta Clipper system is going to pass south of the Richmond area overnight from around 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 to 6 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17.
The system has the potential to bring snow to the Richmond area, however, it only has a six to seven hour window and the following factors could cause no snow to occur:
- The metro Richmond area is above freezing the whole time
- The “rain-snow line” at 5,000 feet stays north of Richmond until 1 or 2 a.m. Saturday
According to Bernier, rain will start around 10 p.m. and carry through until 2 a.m. in the metro Richmond area, and will then start to mix into a little bit of “slushy” snow. Western and northwestern Hanover County could see an inch of snow.
Areas north of Richmond could see one to two inches of snow, from Nelson County through Caroline and into the Northern Neck.