Spring is coming quietly.
After a week of record-setting temperatures, a major winter storm affecting the Plains and Midwest is expected to arrive Sunday night, March 15, and specifically Monday, affecting parts of the region outside the center of the storm and the Mid-Atlantic states in the Southeast.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center is predicting widespread severe thunderstorms and torrential downpours that could cause flooding on Monday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Sunday that tornadoes could be strong and particularly damaging, most likely moving from South Carolina to Maryland in the afternoon.
“While damaging straight-line winds are the most likely severe weather hazard, the possibility of some tornadoes, including particularly strong ones, cannot be ruled out, particularly from the metropolitan areas near Baltimore and Washington, D.C., through Virginia and into North Carolina,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter.
AccuWeather forecast map for Monday, March 16th.
For eastern and central Virginia, including Washington, D.C., and Richmond, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) upgraded the area to a Moderate Risk Level 4, with a 15 percent chance of tornadoes, some likely strong, as storms spread eastward from the Appalachians to the East Coast on Monday afternoon.
What can Staunton and Augusta County expect?
Augusta County is expected to have a daytime high of 56 degrees on Sunday, with conditions expected to be calm and sunny during the day, with a chance of rain in the afternoon. According to the National Weather Service, a warm front will rise into the region, bringing warmer, wetter air and more clouds and showers overnight.
NOAA Storm Prediction Center March 15 map.
A strong cold front will move through the area Monday afternoon and evening. The National Weather Service’s Baltimore/Washington, D.C., weather forecast office said Sunday the system could bring gusty winds and severe thunderstorms, possibly including some tornadoes. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center Augusta County map shows a 10 percent risk of tornadoes.
Temperatures in Augusta County will rise to nearly 65 degrees by noon Monday before dipping to around 52 degrees the rest of the day. The probability of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter of an inch and a half inch are possible.
Cold and windy weather will continue Monday night into Tuesday, with rain and snow showers possible before 11pm and showers between 11pm and 2am, with the lowest temperature around 24 degrees. Snow showers are expected in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains.
Tuesday is expected to be sunny with a high of nearly 36 degrees. Westerly winds of 11 to 17 mph are expected, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Temperatures will plummet to around 19 degrees on Tuesday night and around 27 degrees on Wednesday.
Seasonal temperatures will return to highs near 56 degrees by Thursday, and we’ll welcome spring on Friday.
Virginia live weather radar
Virginia Weather Watches and Warnings
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Monique Calello is a reporter for The News-Leader/USA TODAY Network. Contact her at mcalello@newsleader.com.
This article originally appeared in the Staunton News-Leader: Virginia weather forecast includes severe storms, tornadoes, cold front
