Richmond, Virginia – Rain and snowmelt are raising river levels across parts of the Mid-Atlantic, with ice movement possible this week.
According to the National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, rainfall over the past 48 hours brought more than one inch to portions of central and southern Virginia, with lighter totals extending into West Virginia and Maryland. The rainfall period ended Monday morning.
Additional precipitation is forecast to move across New York, northern Pennsylvania and New Jersey by midweek. Forecast guidance indicates rainfall totals generally ranging from a few hundredths of an inch to around one-quarter inch in parts of Pennsylvania and New York.
Forecasters say the combination of recent rainfall and ongoing snowmelt will result in rises on rivers across much of the region. While widespread flooding is not currently forecast, officials caution that river ice may begin breaking apart and shifting as water levels increase.
Ice movement can create localized concerns, particularly near bridges and bends along waterways, where ice jams occasionally develop. Communities along rivers near Interstate 95 in Virginia, Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania, and Interstate 87 in New York are advised to monitor updates.
The River Forecast Center emphasized that river conditions will continue to be evaluated as additional rainfall moves through midweek. Minor fluctuations in water levels are expected in most basins.
Commuters, students and residents living near rivers should remain aware of changing conditions, especially in areas with lingering ice cover.
