Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA
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399 FXUS61 KRNK 171950 AFDRNK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 250 PM EST Mon Nov 17 2025 .SYNOPSIS... High pressure approaching from the west will pass overhead tonight, before shifting toward the Carolina coast on Tuesday morning. A low pressure system will follow closely behind, bringing rain to the lower Mid-Atlantic from Tuesday afternoon potentially into Wednesday evening. Another round of low pressure will arrive on Friday, resulting in continued rain chances into the coming weekend. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 215 PM EST Monday... Key Messages: 1) Wind speeds will continue to diminish as high pressure passes overhead tonight. 2) Rain chances increase Tuesday morning as a low pressure system arrives. High pressure will continue its approach from the west this evening, with wind speeds gradually diminishing as it does. Latest surface observations indicate gusts in the 20 to 25 mph range across the mountains, and in the teens across the Piedmont, which are down from from those earlier this morning that were 5 to 10 mph stronger. With clear skies in place, winds will diminish quickly during the 5 pm to 6 pm timeframe to less than 10 mph as the center of high pressure begins to pass overhead. Expect increasing high clouds overnight as our low pressure system builds up the Ohio River Valley, with the exceptionally dry air in place allowing low temperatures to fall into the upper 20s to low 30s. Rain chances will increase during late Tuesday morning into late afternoon, mainly north of Highway 460, with the highest chances found in the vicinity of Interstate 64 in Greenbrier County, where as much as 0.50" is possible locally in the western half of the county by sunset. Given that moist air associated with the low has to overcome the dry air currently in place, believe rainfall amounts will taper down significantly to only a few hundredths of an inch toward Highways 460 and 220 by sunset. && .SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... As of 100 PM EDT Monday... Key message: 1) Chances for rain Tuesday into Wednesday morning, and again overnight Thursday. An upper level low riding over the upper level ridge centered over the Gulf is expected to reach the Ohio Valley late Tuesday. A weak surface low in association with the upper level low is expected to be across southern Illinois and Indiana late Tuesday. Given the forward speed of the upper level low, which has outpaced the surface low, the dynamics associated with this system will be lacking overall. A warm front associated with the weak surface low pressure system will likely be providing support for ongoing showers that likely started during the afternoon/evening hours across much of the forecast area north of the Virginia/North Carolina border by Tuesday night. Rain showers along this frontal boundary look to continue through the overnight hours and early morning hours on Wednesday before the remnants of the strung out surface and upper level lows push off the Mid-Atlantic states coastlines mid day on Wednesday. Given the overall lack in dynamical support from this system, rainfall totals look to be light, with better rainfall totals in the 0.20-0.50 inch range expected for areas west of the Blue Ridge, and 0.01-0.15 inch range expected for areas east of the Blue Ridge. Locally higher totals of up to a quarter of an inch one way or the other is possible. Rain looks to end by Wednesday afternoon for much of the region, however cloudy conditions will likely persist for most of the area as cloud cover from the next system upstream starts to approach the area. Some of this moisture combined with lingering moisture across a draped stationary boundary will lead to some low chance upslope rain showers across SE West Virginia. Rain chances look to increase for mountain locations late Thursday as this the surface low looks to develop across the plains, and an associated warm front starts to lift north out of the Tennessee River Valley by Thursday night/Friday morning. Temperatures look to remain near or just above average, with highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s west of the Blue Ridge and upper 60s to low 70s east of the Blue Ridge on Wednesday and Thursday. Lows will generally be in the mid to upper 40s Tuesday and Wednesday nights. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 100 PM EDT Monday... Key message: 1) Above normal temperatures continue through the weekend, with cooler temperatures returning Sunday. 2) Rain chances continue for Mountain locations, with lower chances possible for areas east of the mountains. 3) Dry conditions return Sunday. A split upper level flow pattern will lead to an uncertain forecast to end the work week. An upper level trough entering the Great Lakes region looks to push east into the Northeast throughout the day on Friday. An upper level low that is currently impacting southern California in the southern jet stream is expected to get strung out between the aforementioned northern trough and the upper level ridge across the Gulf. As this southern trough becomes strung out, mid and upper level vorticity is expected to aid in some forcing for ascent along a warm front that looks to be draped across Kentucky, southern West Virginia, and central Virginia by Friday. This frontal boundary combined with upper level forcing for ascent from the aforementioned upper level flow pattern will likely create light showers for the area through Saturday afternoon before surface high pressure works its way into the region. Temperatures look to remain in the upper 60s to low 70s east of the Blue Ridge, and upper 50s to mid 60s west of the Blue Ridge for high temperatures through the end of the period. Low temperatures Friday night will be the warmest in the low 50s areawide, but then decrease into the low 40s and upper 30s Saturday night through the end of the period. && .AVIATION /19Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... As of 245 PM EST Monday... VFR conditions are expected throughout the 17/18Z TAF period. High pressure continues its approach from the west this evening, with wind speeds gradually diminishing as it does. Latest surface observations indicate gusts in the 20kt to 25kt range across the mountains, with gusts in the teens across the Piedmont, and expect these gusts to drop to less than 10kt for most airports between 22Z and 23Z this evening. High clouds will increase overnight, gradually lowering through Tuesday afternoon as the next low pressure system approaches. Intermittent light rain may arrive at LWB by 18/18Z, though the more widespread rain will arrive during Tuesday afternoon and evening. Given dry air in place that the moisture will have to overcome, believe VFR conditions will remain in place through 18/18Z, but ceilings will drop quickly once deeper moisture arrives shortly thereafter. .EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... MVFR/IFR restrictions are likely Tuesday night/Wednesday with a passing system bringing rainfall to the area. Unsettled weather is expected to persist through the end of the week, complete with rounds of sub-VFR ceilings and visibilities areawide. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...NF NEAR TERM...BMG/NF SHORT TERM...EB LONG TERM...EB AVIATION...NF