Winter Storm Continues Development : 3:23 PM

Nelson County, Virginia
As we have been discussing for the past several days, here and here, a vigorous winter storm has been developing that will now most likely affecting Nelson and much of Central Virginia later today. The earlier Winter Storm Watch has now been replaced by a new Winter Storm Warning that takes effective until 2 PM Monday.

This is part of a system that has already dumped as much as 12 to 20 inches of snow in the mid-south region of the country near Memphis, Tennessee. The snow has caused portions of I-40 to come to a complete standstill as seen in this aerial video from the NBC affiliate in Memphis.

Though it does not appear, at this time, Nelson will get hit with that much snow, it does look like amounts between 4 to 7 inches are possible.

Overnight Saturday lighter amounts of snow fell in Nelson with roughly 1 to 2 inches in the valley and 1-3 in the mountains.

This is a changing and developing situation almost hourly, so continue to monitor updates here. I will have much great detail posted later this morning.

URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
319 PM EST SUN MAR 1 2009

DCZ001-MDZ004>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ036>042-050>057-
020430-
/O.CON.KLWX.WS.W.0005.000000T0000Z-090302T1900Z/
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-NORTHERN BALTIMORE-
HARFORD-MONTGOMERY-HOWARD-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE-PRINCE GEORGES-
ANNE ARUNDEL-CHARLES-ST. MARYS-CALVERT-NELSON-ALBEMARLE-GREENE-
MADISON-RAPPAHANNOCK-FAUQUIER-LOUDOUN-ORANGE-CULPEPER-
PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX-
ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-SPOTSYLVANIA-
KING GEORGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…WASHINGTON…FREDERICK…WESTMINSTER…
GAITHERSBURG…COLUMBIA…BALTIMORE…ANNAPOLIS…WALDORF…
ST MARYS CITY…CHARLOTTESVILLE…LEESBURG…CULPEPER…
MANASSAS…MANASSAS PARK…FAIRFAX…ALEXANDRIA…FALLS CHURCH…
FREDERICKSBURG
319 PM EST SUN MAR 1 2009

…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EST MONDAY…

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EST MONDAY.

LOW PRESSURE OVER SOUTH CAROLINA WILL MOVE UP THE EASTERN SEABOARD
THIS EVENING…CREATING A TIGHT GRADIENT OF ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL
OVER THE MID ATLANTIC REGION. ACCUMULATING SNOWS HAVE BEGUN TO
AFFECT PORTIONS AREAS OF NORTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHERN
MARYLAND. SNOWFALL WILL BE HEAVIEST WITH THIS STORM BETWEEN 8 PM
AND 3 AM. SNOWFALL MAY TAPER OFF FOR A PERIOD AFTERWARDS…BEFORE
ANOTHER PERIOD OF SNOW OCCURS DURING THE MORNING HOURS. PRECIPITATION
IS EXPECTED TO END BY MID MORNING MONDAY.

FOR AREAS FROM THE BLUE RIDGE TO INTERSTATE 95 5 TO 7 INCHES OF
SNOW CAN BE EXPECTED BY MONDAY MORNING. BETWEEN I-95 AND THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY TOTALS OF 7 TO 10 INCHES ARE EXPECTED.

GUSTY WINDS WILL DEVELOP AFTER MIDNIGHT AND LAST THROUGHOUT THE
DAY MONDAY.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL
MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.