Showers and storms are moving through central and eastern Virginia on Friday morning, bringing locally heavy rain and frequent lightning to the region. Some wind gusts over 40 mph are possible as the line of weather passes through.
For people in Richmond, the reason to watch the forecast is timing. The rain is expected to ease by mid to late morning, but that break will not last long. Another wave of showers and storms is expected to move in from the south by midday and continue into the afternoon, which means the wet weather is not done after the first round clears.
The heaviest rainfall is expected east and southeast of Richmond, where eastern and southeastern Virginia are under a marginal risk level 1 out of 5 for severe weather. That does not mean widespread severe storms, but it does point to a chance for stronger cells, and an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out in far southeastern Virginia outside of the CBS 6 viewing area. Highs will range from the mid 60s to the lower 70s.
The part that makes this forecast harder to pin down is the gap between rounds. A lull in the rain by mid to late morning could make the morning look calmer for a while, but the next wave is already lined up to return by midday and may last into the afternoon before drier air works in this evening. Overnight Friday, lows will fall into the upper 40s and lower 50s.
After that, the pattern turns quieter fast. The weekend will be mostly sunny with highs in the low to mid 60s, followed by lows Saturday night in the mid 30s to lower 40s. Dry weather is expected through mid-week, with highs in the 60s to lower 70s and lows in the 30s to lower 40s. Some showers may return to the region on Thursday, and cooler weather is expected heading into next weekend.
