The City of Richmond is preparing for an arctic cold front that is expected to arrive Friday, bringing significant cold temperatures, winter precipitation and high winds through the weekend. Flooding may be possible, also, including rising water levels in the James River. Residents and visitors are urged to be prepared and take precautions.
Precipitation is expected to begin as early as Wednesday evening, possibly as a mix of rain and snow showers, before changing to all rain Thursday. Friday’s high temperatures in the upper 40s will give way to overnight lows nearing 11 degrees, as the front moves through. Wind gusts could reach 55 mph on Friday, and flooding is possible, including rising river levels. A brief period of snow showers is possible with little to no accumulation expected. Saturday morning will bring the lowest temperatures, with wind chills possibly dropping to minus three degrees, and some continued wind gusts tapering off. Sunday and Monday will be clear with highs in the 30s and lows in the mid-teens.
Motorists are cautioned that black ice is possible, which is difficult to see and makes roads very slippery. Richmond’s Department of Public Works is pretreating areas of roadways that are susceptible to slick spots, including bridges and hills. Additional staff will be on high alert to respond to black ice, power outages or other impacts as needed.
The City of Richmond’s Temporary Inclement Weather Shelters will be open 24 hours beginning Thursday through Monday. They are located at 1901 Wall Street (United Nations Church) for men and 2807 Hull Street (RVA Sisters Keeper) for women and children. Weather conditions will be evaluated to determine the opening schedule for the rest of the week of Dec. 26.
The James River is expected to reach 9 feet, minor flood level, on Saturday. City leaders warn that the river will be dangerous to any user who is not an expert paddler and urge extreme caution to anyone in or near the river at this time. When water levels are at 5 feet and above, all river users should wear or carry a personal flotation device (PFD) on their watercraft. When water levels are at 9 feet or above, only expert paddlers should use the river recreationally. For more information on river safety, visit https://jamesriverpark.org/riversafety/
Tips for being outside in cold weather:
Protect yourself from frostbite. Hands, feet and face are the most commonly affected areas so wear a hat, mittens (which are warmer than gloves) and cover your mouth with a scarf to reduce heat loss.
Keep dry. Change out of wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer or heavy clothing.
Use handrails when available and use caution as sidewalks could be slippery.
Use the GRTC bus tracker at ridegrtc.com, the GRTC or Transit mobile apps, or call Customer Service (804-358-4782) to get bus arrival times to help minimize time waiting out in the cold.
Additional tips for cold weather driving:
Know road conditions before you leave home. Visit 511Virginia.org or call 511 for road condition updates.
Stay off the roads as much as possible and only drive when absolutely necessary.
Always give snow plows the right of way.
Slow down and give yourself more time to get to your destination.
Avoid using cruise control.
Keep an emergency kit in your car.
Never attempt to drive through any standing water on the road.
Additional tips for cold weather at home:
Know how to shut off water valves in your home, in case pipes burst.
For gas or water emergencies, call Department of Public Utilities 24 hours at 804-646-4646, Option 1.
Have additional heat sources, in case the power goes out.
Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal burning device inside your home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any other partially enclosed area.
Make sure your home is properly insulated.
Don’t leave pets outside for prolonged periods of time and have plenty of fresh, unfrozen water available.
Know how to get help if needed. Download and print the graphic located here for help in Richmond and keep it posted in your home: https://tinyurl.com/gethelpRVA.
The City of Richmond will continue to monitor the weather and provide any updates as needed on social media @CityRichmondVA and @911RVA.
For questions, please call 311.
