Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA
860 FXUS61 KRNK 152318 AFDRNK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 718 PM EDT Sat Aug 15 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Adjust pops based on latest radar/convective model trends which shows less coverage this evening. Aviation updated. && .KEY MESSAGES... Key Message 1: Chances for strong storms and flash flooding Sunday and possibly Monday. && .DISCUSSION... Key Message 1: Chances for strong storms and flash flooding Sunday into Monday. Some stronger storms earlier this afternoon in a weak shear but higher CAPE environment brought some isolated trees down from Tazewell and Smyth down into the NC foothills/piedmont. Latest radar trends continue to show weakening showers over our area. There is some upstream stronger storms over eastern KY, but the near term environment shows a lacking support for strong convection over our area, with better instability west of the mountains. Sunday looks to be a bit greater chance of severe development than today as bulk shear looks to increase along with a possible shortwave traversing the upper flow and a progged increase in instability. We are outlooked with a Slight Risk mainly across the northern CWA with a Marginal Risk most elsewhere. The threats should remain focused on strong to damaging downburst winds and heavy rain/localized flash flooding. Another shortwave may allow for some enhanced development of convection overnight Sunday as well. Another upper disturbance looks to push across the area Monday along with an attendance frontal boundary that will again allow for daytime showers and storms. The stronger shear and instability may be more confined to the southern CWA and SPC keeps the Marginal Risk to our southern area as well. Behind this front we will at least see a pattern shift with a drier airmass and more zonal flow aloft which will allow for a dry midweek. This is relatively shortlived however as moisture and potential disturbances allow for shower and storm chances back by Thursday and Friday. && .AVIATION /00Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... Showers will be fading later this evening, but could have some in VC of BCB/ROA/BLF/LYH before trends weaken. Overall looks VFR this evening but then cigs/vsbys start to lower overnight with stratus possible sending ceilings under 1kft at most sites. Cannot rule out a few clusters of showers north of a LWB-LYH line late tonight but kept out of tafs for now. As we scatter out the low stuff after 13-14z, afternoon looks like scattered convection again, but main area will again be along/north of LWB-LYH. Have kept VC out of tafs now for that far out. Expect VFR SCT-BKN cumulus/TCU in the afternoon. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... Pattern trend continues with chances for storms Monday then dry for Tuesday/Wednesday. Mainly VFR outside of any storms and late night fog/stratus. Another front tracks in Thursday with another shower/storm threat. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...AB/WP AVIATION...AB/WP