Weather Beat: Snow Possible Thursday Afternoon

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On Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch, which would go into affect at 9:00 a.m. Thursday and last through 2:00 a.m. Friday. On Thursday morning, this was reduced to a Winter Weather Advisory. A Winter Storm Warning is currently in affect for counties to our south.

A storm that started out in the deep south dumping as much as 3-6 inches of snow in parts of Mississippi and Alabama, is tracking northeastward towards the mid-Atlantic states. The storm to the south will merge with another low and intensify as it moves into our region, possibly dumping as much as 3 inches locally, but more the farther south you travel. Places like Roanoke, Virginia could see upwards of 6 inches of snow by the time it is all said and done. Some of the highest peaks in North Carolina and Southwest Virginia could see upwards of 1 foot of snow.

What should we expect here in Bristow? Thursday morning, we will likely wake up to rain with a temperature near 40 degrees. As the day progresses, temperatures will begin to fall closer to freezing, and we can expect the rain to turn to a wintry mix, before finally turning to all snow around 3 p.m. The source of the cold air will come from the storm itself through its upward lift, forcing cold air to the surface, and in turn, transitioning the precipitation to all snow. It may take a while for the snow to begin to accumulate. Here in Bristow, we can expect anywhere from a Trace to 2 inches of snow.

On Thursday night, the snow will completely move out, and the sun will finally return by Friday. We will turn slightly warmer for the weekend, but highs only near freezing should be expected by next week.

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