Richmond, Virginia – A blast of winter air will surge into central and eastern Virginia Sunday afternoon and night, bringing strong winds, dangerous cold, and the risk of scattered power outages before conditions ease Monday.
The most impactful period begins Sunday afternoon as northwest winds rapidly increase, followed by sharply colder air after sunset. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph are possible across eastern Virginia, including the Richmond metro, Hampton Roads, and the Eastern Shore. As temperatures fall overnight, wind chills are expected to drop into the single digits, with some inland areas near Richmond feeling as cold as 4 degrees by daybreak Monday.
According to the National Weather Service office in Wakefield, a Cold Weather Advisory is in effect from 7 p.m. Sunday through 9 a.m. Monday for much of central, eastern, and southeast Virginia, southeast Maryland, and northeast North Carolina. A Wind Advisory runs from 1 p.m. Sunday through 7 a.m. Monday for Virginia Beach, the Eastern Shore, and parts of northeast North Carolina.
Cities and counties impacted include Richmond, Petersburg, Hopewell, Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Gloucester, Caroline, Hanover, Henrico, and Chesterfield. Strong crosswinds could make travel difficult on I-64, I-95, I-295, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, especially for high-profile vehicles.
According to emergency management officials, residents should secure outdoor items, charge devices, and prepare for brief power interruptions where tree limbs come down. Anyone spending time outdoors Sunday night should wear layers, hats, and gloves, and limit exposure to the cold. Pets should be brought indoors, and sensitive plumbing should be protected ahead of the temperature drop.
Winds gradually weaken Monday morning, but cold air lingers through midday before a slow warming trend begins later in the week.
