Learn meteorological concepts explained with local Richmond weather examples. Understand jet streams, cold fronts, and more.
Fast-moving rivers of air high in the atmosphere that steer weather systems.
Around Richmond: Richmond's winter storms often follow jet stream dips from Canada. When the jet stream moves south, cold air floods into Virginia, bringing potential snowstorms and ice events.
Lines on a weather map connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure.
Around Richmond: Closely-spaced isobars = strong winds. When isobars bunch up over Richmond, you'll see gusty conditions. Wide spacing = gentle winds.
Boundary where cold air rapidly pushes into warmer air masses.
Around Richmond: A cold front moving through Richmond typically brings sudden temperature drops (10-20°F in hours), wind shifts from south to north, and thunderstorms. We track these closely for RVA.
Boundary where warm air gradually replaces cold air.
Around Richmond: Warm fronts approach Richmond more gradually, bringing steady rain or drizzle before warmer air arrives. Great for ending winter cold snaps.
Temperature at which air becomes saturated and moisture condenses.
Around Richmond: High dew points in Richmond summers (65°F+) = muggy, uncomfortable conditions. Low dew points (30°F-) = dry, crisp air you can feel.
Warm air layer above cooler air, trapping weather and pollutants.
Around Richmond: Richmond experiences inversions in fall and winter, trapping cold air in the James River valley. This can create dense fog or keep pollution low to the ground.
Rising motion of warm air that creates clouds and thunderstorms.
Around Richmond: Afternoon thunderstorms in Richmond summers develop through convection—hot ground heats the air above it, causing it to rise and form storms.
Cold air moving over warm water creates heavy precipitation.
Around Richmond: When cold air moves across the Atlantic in winter, it can enhance moisture for Richmond. Mountain gaps channel this moisture, affecting our forecasts.
Test your RVA weather knowledge
The network's long-form channel — Weather 101 explainers and Virginia weather history.
The RVA Weather Brief walks through Richmond's forecast three times a week — the why, not just the what.
