


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA
441 FXUS61 KRNK 150003 AFDRNK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 803 PM EDT Mon Jul 14 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A warm and humid weather pattern will continue throughout this week with daily chances of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Tuesday and Wednesday could feature the highest chance of storms due to a frontal boundary passing to the north. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 750 PM EDT Monday... Key Messages: 1) Scattered showers and thunderstorms with potential for severe storms and hydrological issues this afternoon. 2) A Flood Watch remains in effect across parts of the Virginia Piedmont due to a slight risk of excessive rainfall. Scattered strong storms have been over the area through the afternoon, and will continue for another few hours. Some high res guidance has this convection morphing into more of a linear structure as it moves into the Southside and eastern VA later tonight, but thinking overall activity will wane as the evening progresses, and daytime heating and instability is lost. The storms are very efficient rain producers, and so heavy rain is expected with most of the storms. Training of cells over the same location will increase the risk of flash flooding, especially given rainfall rates as high as 3" to 4" per hour. Although flash flooding is the primary threat, strong winds will also accompany these storms, and could down trees and powerlines. Previous discussion below... As of 200 PM EDT Monday... A weak shortwave is moving into the forecast area early this afternoon, meanwhile a frontal boundary is moving into the OH River Valley to our north. These features together with ample humidity and high temperatures priming the atmosphere will lead to scattered showers and thunderstorms across the area. DCAPEs of 600-700 J/kg, and SBCAPE of 2500-2500 J/kg are rather impressive, but we are lacking almost any meaningful shear, and lapse rates are poor. This rather pulsey environment lends itself to mostly single cellular development and wind damage as the main threat. The upper support of the shortwave could allow a few cells to become more organized and form a multicellular structure. In addition, the abnormally high PWATs approaching 2" are quite juicy, and most cells will generate high rainfall rates. With saturated soil moistures from a lot of recent rain, these storms could cause localized and urban flooding. A Flood Watch has been issued for most of the VA Piedmont and Southside for this afternoon through tonight. Tuesday will be similar, as the frontal boundary stalls to our north, but we remain well situated in a warm and moist sector. Severe potential is lower for Tuesday. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 1215 PM EDT Monday... Key Message: 1) Daily shower and storm chances continue. Largely a persistence forecast as the soupy high PWAT airmass continues to dominate the region with little to no change. Aside from perhaps weak perturbations in the broad SW flow aloft, there isn`t much to hone in on as far as larger scale forcing so the diurnal daytime heating and orographic components look to be the main triggers for convective initiation then other development enhanced by outflow boundaries. Locally strong to damaging gusting winds from hydrometeor loaded downdrafts and flash flooding continue to be the main threats with development. Max temps at near to above normal values and low temps above norms given the ample moisture in place. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 1225 PM EDT Monday... Key Message: 1) Like the short term, daily shower and storm chances continue. About the only change to the regime may be a bit more of a transition to zonal flow aloft as the high off the SE coast retrogrades westward. This does not look to alter the amply moist and conditionally unstable airmass in place so expecting the daily dosage of scattered to numerous showers and storms to continue. Again, there could be the dual threat of strong to damaging winds from wet microbursts and locally high rainfall rates leading to flash flooding. Max temps at near to above normal values and low temps above norms given the ample moisture in place. && .AVIATION /00Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 800 PM EDT Monday... Scattered showers and thunderstorms have been over the forecast area for much of the afternoon and evening, and will continue for a few more hours, tapering off between 02Z and 04Z. These storms are producing very heavy rain, which can quickly reduce visibilities. Ceilings are VFR, but will also lower in the vicinity of thunderstorms and fog. Winds are generally from the southeast to south east of the Blue Ridge, and more southwest to westerly in the west, up to 10 knots. However, near any thunderstorms, winds will become gusty and erratic. These storms are also producing a lot of lightning, which poses an additional hazard. With ample moisture in the atmosphere, expect patchy fog to develop during the overnight and early morning hours, especially in areas that received rain this afternoon. Have included fog at all terminals, with the exception being KROA, as confidence is lower in fog formation there. Some fog could be dense, possibly decreasing visibilities to 1SM or lower. Fog will start to dissipate after 13Z or so for most areas tomorrow morning. For Tuesday, the forecast looks to be very similar to today, with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing after about 18Z or so, first along the Blue Ridge, and then expanding in coverage. Overall forecast confidence is high, but low in specific locations of thunderstorm development through Tuesday afternoon. .EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... The overall pattern remains stagnant for the remainder of this week with a warm and humid air mass providing daily chances of afternoon showers and thunderstorms and an overnight potential for patchy fog. Coverage of the convection may be highest during Tuesday and Wednesday as a frontal boundary passes to the north. Therefore, conditions will likely remain VFR for most of this week with the exceptions being the aforementioned afternoon storms and overnight fog. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...Flood Watch until midnight EDT tonight for VAZ024-034-035- 044>047-058-059. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...PW NEAR TERM...AS/VFJ SHORT TERM...AB LONG TERM...AB AVIATION...AS/PW