To WAVY-TV 10 and Fox 43 viewers,
 
I wanted to let you know that I will be leaving WAVY-TV 10 and Fox 43.  This is my last weekend on-air doing weathercasts.  Weather has been my passion since I was 9 years old, but I’ve decided to pursue other interests and spend weekends with family and friends.  It was a bittersweet decision for me because I truly enjoy my job as a broadcast meteorologist.  I’ve had a terrific run in my home state of Virginia at WAVY and Fox over the past 3 years and I thank you for your loyal viewership and support.  I’ve made wonderful friends here and I have enjoyed volunteering in the Hampton Roads community.  In addition to weather events, my highlights have included the Holiday Lights Contest, Friday Night Flights, my “Pet of the Week” segments, and announcing Penn State’s football game score at the end of some Saturday evening newscasts. 
 
Best wishes and sunshine always,

Cheryl Nelson
Meteorologist
CBM/AMS Seal

Many of our pets enjoy spending time outdoors.  However, when temperatures drop below 32 degrees, it is a good idea to bring them inside, if possible.  If pets have to stay outdoors, be sure they have a shelter with blankets to keep them warm.  Check and refill their water bowl often as the water freezes pretty quickly in sub freezing weather. 

If your pets are inside, be aware of the pests they may bring in with them (certain insects, etc may try to come inside to warm up too).    I do the “Pet of the Week” segment on WAVY-TV and have a genuine love for animals and their well-being.

If you haven’t thought about parasite prevention for your pet, now would be a good time to start.  Fleas may come inside with your pet, especially during the fall and winter when it gets cold outside.  Fleas can cause some bad diseases in your pet such as cat scratch fever and tapeworms.  Fleas also can irritate your pet’s skin causing him/her to scratch the itchy skin continuously.  Heartworms can survive in your pet’s lungs, heart, and blood vessels.  Other internal parasites like hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms can also infect your pets causing them gastrointestinal problems: kittens and puppies are most susceptible  to these parasites.

I hope your pets are warm, healthy and happy! 

To keep your pet healthy, talk with your veterinarian about parasite prevention.  If you have a story you’d like to share about how you keep your pet safe and warm during the winter months, let me know.  Please remember to spay or neuter your pet.  Microchipping is also a good idea.  All pets brought to shelters are scanned for a microchip- if you lose your pet, the chances of being reunited with him/her are much higher if the pet is microchipped.  It is a safe, quick and easy process.  Talk to your veterinarian if you would like additional information.   

I’d love to see your pet pictures too.  Feel free to send me an email at cheryl.nelson@wavy.com

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

After a very cold start to 2010, the weather pattern will start to become more progressive.  That means the jet stream will start to lift back to the north pushing the bitterly cold air back into Canada.  Temperatures by the middle of this week will be flirting with 50 degrees!

In the meantime, it will be another cold one tonight with temperatures in the 10s and 20s.  The high will be near 40 degrees on Monday.  An Alberta Clipper will push through the region late Monday night into Tuesday morning.  Typically Alberta Clippers are weak systems that lack a lot of moisture.  Additionally, the mountains of VA tend to “eat away” some of the moisture.  However, there could be just enough moisture left where we see a few flurries.

Have a wonderful night!

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

The cold weather pattern we’re in is going to be around for quite a while.  Temperatures likely won’t get above 40 degrees all week.  In fact, after lows in the 10s and 20s, it will be a struggle for temperatures to crack 32 degrees in some locations during the day.  (Average high temperatures for this time of the year are in the upper 40s to near 50).

The wind chill will be an issue again today.  Northwest winds of 15-30 mph with higher gusts created wind chills in the single digits this morning and wind chills will be in the 10s and 20s this afternoon.  Winds will finally begin to slowly subside overnight, but it will remain frigid.  Please remember to keep your pets inside, if possible.  Any water in bowls outside will likely stay frozen for much of the night and even into the day due to very cold temperatures. 

Please also remember to look after each other.  I recommend a hat, scarf, gloves/mittens and a heavy coat in this kind of cold weather!

Another tip: please do not leave your car while it is running to let it warm up.  Leaving a vehicle running and unattended is a perfect invitation for someone to steal your vehicle and drive away.  If you do need to warm up your vehicle, please remain inside the car and keep it locked.

Stay warm and safe this week!

By the way, we are keeping an eye on a possible storm moving in from the southwest late Thursday into Friday that could bring us some snow showers.  The track, intensity and amount of cold air will all be key players.  It is too soon to make any other predictions at this time, but it could be interesting…stay tuned! 

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

2009 will go down in the record books as one of the wettest years on record reported at Norfolk International Airport.  In 2009, we received 64.66″ of precipitation.  In a “normal” year we receive 45.74″ of precipitation.  Here is the list of our top four wettest years:

YEAR          PRECIPITATION

1889                     70.72″

1877                    69.14″

1979                    64.96″

2009                   64.66″

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

Many people to our north and west will have a “White Christmas” until the rain arrives on Christmas Day…

While Virginia and North Carolina usually have less than a 25% chance of a White Christmas, this year will be much different for areas well north and west of Hampton Roads!  Saturday’s snowstorm blanketed the region and snow is still on the ground in places like Richmond, Washington, D.C, Harrisonburg, Charlottesville and Roanoke. 

Here is a look at the current snow depth:

If you want to see the snow, you’ve only got a couple of more days to “drive to it.”  Rain will wash the snow away on Christmas Day.

Happy Holidays!

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

As temperatures cool significantly over the next 24 hours, it may start to “feel” a lot more like the holidays.  If the cold weather doesn’t put you in the holiday spirit, perhaps the holiday lights will!

Thanks to everyone who submitted an entry for our Holiday Lights Contest on wavy.com. The photos are wonderful!  Our panel of judges have selected the top 10 finalists.  Now it is your time to view the top 10 photos and vote for your favorite here: 

The 5 photos with the highest votes will be our “top 5,” and our panel of judges will then select a winner.  I’ll announce the winner during WAVY News 10 at 6PM on Saturday.  I’ll broadcast live from the winning house on Monday, December 21st. 

Thanks for voting!  Good luck to all of our finalists! 

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

Photo taken by Alan Dyer

Good news for some of us in Hampton Roads!  Skies are beginning to clear this evening which means that some of us may be able to view the Geminid Meteor Shower overnight.  The peak is around 2 AM and over 100 meteors are expected per hour.  A new moon will also help to create ideal viewing conditions.  If you plan on heading out, be sure to select a dark area away from city lights and look toward the eastern sky.  Temperatures will drop to the lower 40s in most locations so make sure you stay warm  Good luck! 

Feel free to send your photos to photos@wavy.com. 

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson

It was a cold rainy day in Hampton Roads and northeast North Carolina on Saturday.  If you wanted accumulating snow, you would have had to drive well to the north and west.

From Jessica, student at JMU inHarrisonburg, VA

Here are some snow totals I found from today:

Harrisonburg  5.5″

Blacksburg  3.9″

Fairfax  3.5″

Roanoke  2.3″

Springfield  2.0″

Charlottesville  1.5″

Look for full sunshine and chilly temperatures on Sunday.  Have a great night!

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson