The week ahead: want to wash your hair with snow? You’re going to have to wait a little longer.

Despite the wishes and hopes of many, Richmond has failed to tally any official snowfall yet this season. If you’re hoping for some soon, you’re going to have to wait a little longer.

December 28, 2012; 2:18 PM • by Weather Dan

Sorry, folks; winter’s closed. Moose out front should have told you.

Feels a bit like that, doesn’t it? Richmond has still officially received no snow since July 1, despite the best efforts of the atmosphere and the wishes of many, many people. Unfortunately, the short-term forecast doesn’t hold much promise for anyone still wanting snow, either.

Another quick-hitting low will move into the Ohio Valley later tonight. While the models had been teasing parts of central Virginia with snow, it looks like most of the white stuff will remain along and west of the Blue Ridge and further north, with the southeasternmost extent occurring along a line from Charlottesville to Fredericksburg. Amounts of 2” or more are possible around the DC area and the northern Shenandoah Valley, and across parts of southwest Virginia as well.

In Richmond? Not so much. Rain will start before sunrise – and likely have some sleet or maybe a few snowflakes mixed in to start, switching over to all-rain by mid-morning. Conditions should begin to improve around late afternoon/near sunset.

We’ll replace a dreary Saturday with a clearing skies and a windy Sunday, as winds gusts to 25mph at times behind the low as it tracks toward the northeast. Our next shot of rain comes on Tuesday from a quick-moving frontal system; temperatures look to stay above freezing for the duration of that event, too.

The pattern remains fairly active, with another quick-moving system coming through Thursday night into Friday. Right now there’s not a lot of support for even some rain from this system, but if we do get enough moisture…chances are there won’t be any snow from that one either.

Temperatures this week look to be both variable and seasonable – neither of which is much of a surprise.

The big signal however is that sharp drop right at the end, around next Friday. Both of the major long-term models are hinting at a fairly healthy intrusion of cold air coming in around that time frame, which would mean some very, very chilly temperatures for the region next weekend, on the order of highs in the upper 20s and lows in the upper 10s. If you’re thinking about stashing away (or returning) some of those extra-warm winter clothes you’ve received as gifts, you might want to think again. They could come in handy rather soon.

December 28, 2012 2:18 PM 2