From the city…

With the expectation of significant late winter storm possible later this afternoon and tonight, the City’s Public Works and Parks and Recreation crews are ready for whatever falls from the sky.  According to the latest forecasts, this storm has the potential to a sizeable and plowable snow to the City, so city Public Works crews will be closely monitoring the conditions through the night to prepare the roads for Monday morning.

“When we get accumulations of this predicted amount it certainly means a bigger challenge for our crews, but we are standing by for needing to treat the city streets in the best way that we can depending on what falls overnight,” says Ric Barrick, Director of Communications. “We currently have our first 12 hour crew in waiting for the snow to fall and expect to begin treating the streets later this afternoon.” Current temperatures on City streets and bridges are above freezing and salt applied from last night’s storm is still working.  With high winds predicted after midnight, there is a concern for power outages but recently installed remote generators at many major intersections will assist to keep those intersections on in the event of a power outage.  Large March snowfalls are not uncommon in Virginia or the Charlottesville area.  The largest March snowfall on record was 20.7” of snow that fell in the City on March 6, 1962.

The city Public Works Department maintains 24 deicing vehicles with state-of-the-art monitoring equipment such as cameras at intersections and temperature monitors on the pavement of some city bridges.  During most storms two 40-person crews working 12-hour shifts keep city streets treated using a variety of de-icing methods.  Major thoroughfares are always treated first but secondary residential streets will be handled as soon as crews can get to them.  City officials ask that residents avoid driving during the peak of any storm to allow crews to get to all areas of the city.  Also, please avoid parking on the street prior to a snow event.  Vehicles will be towed that are parked illegally.  City ordinance requires all residents and business owners to clean sidewalks within 12 hours of a snow event.  To help prepare the City offers the following tips for winter driving and cold weather safety:
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…Because there is a Wind Advisory in Effect!

High Wind Watch In Effect From Thur Morning Through Late Thursday Night.

The Natl Weather Service  In Sterling Va Has Issued A High Wind Watch.Which Is In Effect From Thur Morning Through Late Thur Night For Counties Along & West Of The Blue Ridge.

A Strong Low Pressure System Will Move Inland From The Carolina Coast As High Pressure Remains Over New England. The Mid Atlantic Will Be Located In A Tight Pressure Gradient Between The Two Systems.

Which Will Result In Sustained Easterly Upslope Winds Of 40 Mph With Brief Gusts To 60 Mph.Mainly Across The Higher Elevations Thur Morning Through Thur Afternoon.

A High Wind Watch Means There Is The Potential For A Hazardous High Wind Event. Sustained Winds Of At Least 40 Mph.Or Gusts Of
58 Mph Or Stronger May Occur. Continue To Monitor The Latest Forecasts From The Natl Weather Svc.

[pic from ronnnie44052]

We just got word that Dorothy is trying to find shelter.

I.E., there is a tornado warning, the show at the pavilion got canceled and you need to be really careful tonight. Let us know what you’ve seen.

UPDATE: For nearly real time tornado warnings, go here: http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=akq&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=no 

[NOAA alert]

And I quote:

The LORD then said to cVillains, “Go into the ark (aka South Street), you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. Take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, 3 and also seven of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth. Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.

Seriously folks,

Flood Watch Tuesday
for Charlottesville
Posted Date: 3/3/2008
DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY WILL TRACK NORTHEAST TO A POSITION NEAR WEST VIRGINIA BY EARLY TUESDAY EVENING…AND NORTHEAST TO NEAR NEW YORK CITY BY EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. WARM MOIST AIR WILL FLOW TO THE NORTH AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THEN…A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION TUESDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL RESULT IN A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN. BETWEEN A HALF INCH AND AN INCH WILL BE LIKELY…BUT AMOUNTS MAY BE LOCALLY HIGHER IN ANY THUNDERSTORMS. THE GROUND IS PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY FROZEN AND VEGETATION HAS NOT YET STARTED TO BLOOM. THUS…MOST RAINFALL WILL TURN INTO RUNOFF…INUNDATING SMALLER CREEKS AND STREAMS. IN ADDITION…THERE WILL BE VARYING IMPACTS DEPENDING ON REGION. ACROSS THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS AND APPALACHIANS…SNOW MELT WILL COMBINE WITH THE EXPECTED RAINFALL TO CONTRIBUTE SATURATED CONDITION PRIOR TO ANY SIGNIFICANT RAIN. HOWEVER…IN THE BALTIMORE WASHINGTON CORRIDOR THE HEAVY RAINFALL ALONE FROM THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE URBANIZED FLOODING. A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.