An area of low pressure will track up the mid-Atlantic coast during today. Steady rain in the morning will turn heavy at times from late morning through the afternoon, especially east of I-95.
Rain will taper to scattered showers late this evening through Monday morning before ending.
Rain potential for much of the area is in the 1 to 2 inch range, with the lesser amounts closer to the mountains. Areas along and east of I-95 will see over 2 inches of rain with isolated totals near 3 inches possible closer to the coast.
Here is a summary of some computer models for the Richmond metro area. The average of 12 different models is over 2 inches of rainfall. By the way, the daily rainfall record for today (April 22, from midnight until 11:59 p.m.) is 1.60″ from 1984.
The rainfall deficit for April is over 2 inches below normal, and about 4.5 inches below normal for the year so far. We could easily eliminate the entire month’s shortfall, and half of the year’s deficit, just today.
This storm will also help pull colder air into the region. After morning highs in the mid/upper 50s, temperatures will fall and settle in the 50° to 55° range most of the day. Winds will gust over 20 mph, providing a bit of a wind chill as well.
For as chilly and rainy it will be here, snow will fall late today into Monday northwest of our area. Winter storm watches are already out for parts of West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania & New York.
