News

Actions

Severe weather threat increasing this weekend

Posted at 9:11 AM, Jun 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-04 14:30:32-04

RICHMOND, Va. -- Bands of thunderstorms produced torrential rainfall Friday evening across parts of the state.  Richmond International Airport received 3.63" just between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., setting a new rainfall record for June 3.  Muggy air (dew points in the upper 60s and lower 70s) will continue through Sunday, which will allow any thunderstorm that develops to unleash very heavy rainfall.

Scattered storms will develop Saturday afternoon, with the best chance closer to I-81. Some of these storms will move into central Virginia during the evening. A few storms may produce strong wind gusts, with better chances northwest of Richmond.

Blog9

As a warm front lifts northward overnight into Sunday morning, more scattered storms will occur across the state.  These storms will shift north of I-64 before daybreak.

[DOWNLOAD CBS 6 WEATHER AUTHORITY APP WITH LIGHTNING ALERTS:[iPhone/iPad Download Link|Android App Download Link ] 

Clouds will give way to sunshine by late-morning Sunday, and it will be a very warm and muggy day with highs 85° to 90°.  A strong cold front will approach from the west during the afternoon and scattered storms will develop ahead of it.  Storms will be more likely early to mid-afternoon across western Virginia, from mid-afternoon into early evening for central Virginia, and late afternoon through mid-evening for eastern Virginia.  For the Richmond metro area, it looks like the best chance of severe storms will be between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday.

Blog1
Most of the CBS 6 viewing area is in an enhanced risk for severe storms.   The primary severe threat will be damaging winds in excess of 60 mph.  A squall line should develop, and this would cause wind damage across multiple counties as the line moves eastward.  Storms will also produce very heavy rainfall and possibly some hail.  If there isn't too much cloud cover in the morning and afternoon, the dynamics may come together enough for isolated tornadoes.

The storms will exit to the east by late evening.  The actual cold front will trigger a few scattered showers and thunderstorms behind in late evening and overnight, but most of the energy from the earlier storms will be gone, so those storms should not be severe.

We will have frequent updates the rest of the weekend.  Stay With CBS 6, The Weather Authority.

CBS 6 Weather Authority links:

CBS 6 Weather Authority

CBS 6 Weather Authority