RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - As of Noon, 0.39″ of rainfall was reported at Richmond International Airport as rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms tracked eastward through central Virginia. Some street flooding in the metro occurred as the deluge affected us during the mid-day lunch rush. Despite the lightning, power outages have remained low in the area (less than 400 in the Metro as of 12:50 p.m.), according to Dominion Virginia Power. We’ll remain cloudy the rest of today as a large storm system continues to affect the U.S. from the Northern Plains to the Eastern seaboard. Energy from this potent storm system will move through the Mid-Atlantic region today, bringing more rounds of sometimes heavy rain and storms through tonight, along with an enhanced chance of severe weather after dark and overnight. Wind shear will be very favorable for severe storms, but meager low-level moisture and surface heating will limit the severe storm potential. Isolated damaging straight-line winds are possible in the southern third of Virginia tonight. Total rainfall accumulations from today’s storm system in central Virginia should range from half an inch to an inch. This large storm system is affecting the U.S. from the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest with blizzard conditions and heavy snowfall, through the Midwest with severe weather, to the Eastern seaboard.
Energy from this potent storm system will move through the Mid-Atlantic region today, bringing rounds of sometimes heavy rain during the day, followed by a chance of severe weather after dark.
Wind shear will be very favorable for severe storms, but meager low-level moisture and limited surface heating (because of the cloud-cover and daytime rain) will limit the severe storm potential until this evening, when isolated damaging straight-line winds are possible (especially in the southern third of Virginia) between 6 p.m. to 3 a.m.
This will be when the best upper-level energy passes over our region along with the approaching surface cold front, and may enhance our threat for damaging wind gusts.
If you live around Farmville to Petersburg and anywhere south, that's where better instability and moisture will be present for an enhanced severe threat.
The rest of us in central Virginia, though, will all experience the heavy rain! Total rainfall accumulations from today's storm system in central Virginia should range from half an inch to an inch.
This system will move out of the area by sunrise Thursday.
Stay with CBS 6, we'll keep you ahead of the storm. Join the weather conversation with Carrie on Facebook here, and keep up with afternoon and evening updates from Chief Meteorologist Zach Daniel here.
