Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA
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760 FXUS61 KRNK 301816 AFDRNK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 116 PM EST Sun Nov 30 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front pushes to the east coast this evening. High pressure builds in from the Ohio Valley Monday, while low pressure develops along the front off the Gulf Coast. This system will advance into our area Monday night into Tuesday with another round of wintry weather changing to rain. High pressure returns Tuesday night. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/... As of 1230 PM EST Sunday... Key Messages: 1) Winter Weather Advisory expired at Noon. 2) Spotty light rain/drizzle this afternoon, dry tonight-Monday. Light rain and drizzle will be patchy ahead of a cold front this afternoon. Temperatures have climbed above freezing for most, though some pockets of 32F still remain in portions of the Alleghanys. Despite the front pushing through our area this afternoon, skies will be mainly cloudy until later tonight when jet level induced cirrus moves east, and enough mixing of dry air clears out the lower clouds east of the WV mountains. Brief period of cold advection will bring temperatures down into 20s for most, though confidence is low due to cloud cover lingering which could keep temps warmer than forecast, so may have some 30s in places like Roanoke. Monday, look for high pressure to build overhead by early afternoon, then shift to the northeast by evening. A dry day in store with sunshine giving way to increasing clouds later in the day from the south, ahead of our next weather maker. With sunshine, temperatures should climb into the lower to mid 40s, expect some 30s in the mountains. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... As of 100 PM EST Sunday... Key Message: 1) Wintry Precipitation likely Monday night into Tuesday. Confidence continues to increase in a wintry weather setup for Monday night into Tuesday. Much of the forecast from yesterday is on track. A surface low pressure system in the south will be carried northeastward (and to our east) by a mid-level trough over the Midwest heading eastward. Isentropic lift and the 540 thickness line will be over the Mid-Atlantic and provide rain, freezing rain, and snow for the area. Confidence is high that everyone will get some form of precipitation during this time period. Precipitation will likely start after midnight (Tuesday morning). Cold air damming (CAD) from a previous surface high will keep surface temperatures at or below freezing for this area Monday night while warm and moist air advects over it from a low level jet. Thus, freezing rain is anticipated to be the dominant precipitation type for areas along and west of the Blue Ridge until late Tuesday morning. The freezing rain will transition into rain by the afternoon as temperatures warm up into the upper 30s to lower 40s. Higher elevations may see snow or a mix of rain and snow as well as freezing rain during the forecast period. A separate round of upslope snow may impact Western Greenbrier County Tuesday afternoon as the trough axis pushes through. Total snow accumulations in Western Greenbrier is forecast to be between 1-2" while most of the area west of the Blue Ridge may not see more than half an inch at best. Ice accumulation is expected to be between 0.10-0.20" along the Blue Ridge, the Alleghany Highlands, and parts of southeast WV and the New River Valley. There are some isolated locations that may reach up to 0.25". Freezing rain may reach as far east as the central Piedmont, but there is a sharp transition to rain just east of the Blue Ridge. These areas, particularly in southside VA and Foothills/Piedmont of NC, are likely to only receive rain during this event. Total rainfall amounts (assuming 100% of the precipitation is rain) may be between 0.75-1.00". The surface low responsible for the winter weather will be to our east by Tuesday evening and the area will be in the subsidence side of the system. Winds will shift to northwesterly as a high pressure system from the west starts to move into the Mid- Atlantic. Winds may also gust to 10-20 mph Tuesday night as the new air mass moves in. && .LONG TERM /Wednesday THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of NOON EST Sunday... Key Messages: 1. Wintry precipitation possible Friday. Precipitation chances continue through the weekend. 2. Temperatures remaining below normal for the period, but trending a few degrees warmer. A dome of high pressure will become situated over the forecast area by Wednesday morning, and remain overhead through at least Wednesday night/Thursday morning. 500mb flow becomes more zonal through the day, and then turning southwesterly through Thursday, as an upper trough pushes eastward, driving a cold front through the northern Mid Atlantic Thursday. Although this front is mostly dry, may see some upslope snow showers in western Greenbrier County WV Thursday with the frontal passage, but any accumulations will be light. Another surface high will build in the region quickly behind the front, with a shot of cold air. Will likely see wind gusts in the 15 to 25 mph range by Thursday afternoon for locations along and west of the Blue Ridge, as an 850mb jet strengthens with the passage of the front. The more active weather comes Friday, with a southern stream trough moving from the desert SW into the Gulf states, strengthening as it moves through the central US. This system will advect a surge of moisture northward from the Gulf, while the surface high over the central Appalachians moves northeast and wedges against the eastern sides of the mountains. Once this moisture arrives and overruns the high pressure wedge in place over the area, will see a mix of wintry precipitation. At this time, precipitation looks to begin as snow for some, then transitioning to freezing rain as the warm air layer aloft increase with the approach of the front, and then a change over to rain as the surface temperatures warm enough above freezing. Given the spread in deterministic models regarding the evolution of this system and temperatures late in the week, confidence is low in precipitation type, and is subject to change in future forecast updates. However, still looks to be some impacts for the area, the degree of which is uncertain at this time. High pressure returns to the area behind this system, with more cold air filtering in. Could see lingering snow showers in the mountains, if the cold air can catch up to any remaining moisture. Temperatures will remain below normal through the end of the week and the weekend, but trending a few degrees warmer. Highs will be in the 30s to 40s in the west, and 40s to low 50s in the eats. Friday will be the coldest day, with widespread highs in the 30s. Lows look to remain at or below the freezing mark through the forecast period. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... As of 1230 PM EST Sunday... MVFR to IFR restrictions this afternoon, should gradually improve toward early evening as post-frontal winds kick up just enough raise cigs to VFR east of the mountains. Some light rain/drizzle still possible this afternoon, dries out by 0z. BLF/LWB will retain lower cigs longer, with BLF possibly not getting to VFR til 12z Monday. .EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... Another storm system arrives with more wintry weather Monday night so expect sub-VFR cigs/vsbys late Monday night into Tuesday. Return to VFR for most by Wednesday-Thursday, slower at BLF Wed. Friday yet another storm system looks to bring wintry weather and poor flying weather to the region. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...WP NEAR TERM...WP SHORT TERM...CG LONG TERM...AS AVIATION...EB/WP