Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA

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304 FXUS61 KRNK 101047 AFDRNK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 647 AM EDT Fri May 10 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A cold front wish push through the area this morning bringing cooler air and gusty winds. A few showers will also be possible through Saturday. Dry high pressure is expected on Monday, followed by a widespread probability of precipitation Tuesday and Wednesday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 220 AM EDT Friday... Key Messages: 1) Cold front crosses through the region today. 2) Gusty winds and cooler temperatures. A cold front is in the process of crossing the area this morning. A few showers associated with the front continue early this morning, but will taper off by daybreak. Winds become gusty behind the front today, generally out of the WNW and perhaps a few gusts to 30mph are possible in the higher elevations. Along with gusty winds, drier dew points will push in throughout the day, so will have a much drier feel to the air. With the passage of the upper low, could have some afternoon showers develop, with perhaps an isolated chance of a rumble of thunder across the Piedmont areas where heating will be the greatest. Winds subside a bit overnight and temperatures drop into the 40s. A few low 40s possible in the highest elevations. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... As of 500 AM EDT Friday... Key Messages: 1) Confidence is high for cooler conditions this weekend. 2) Mountain rain showers will be possible during Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning. In the wake of a frontal passage early this weekend, large scale northwest flow will set up from Canada right into the Mid- Atlantic. This will provide cooler temperatures over the weekend, with lows in the 40s and daily high temperatures just eking into the 70s east of the Blue Ridge, mid 60s west. An embedded shortwave within the broader trough will move south on Saturday, encouraging some scattered shower formation. The lack of instability and drier air mass will prevent strong thunderstorms, but it wouldn`t be surprising to see a flash of lightning here or there Saturday afternoon. A surface high will take over most of the eastern seaboard and cut off any more rain chances on Sunday. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... As of 500 AM EDT Friday... Key Messages: 1) Confidence is high for warmer conditions by next week. 2) Daily chances of showers and thunderstorms will return with the highest odds possible by Tuesday. Monday should start dry with high pressure across the Mid Atlantic. The high should head offshore later in the day to provide warm air advection and moisture advection from southwest flow. However, this increase in warmth and moisture will combine with an approaching Rocky low moving through the MS River valley. Shower and thunderstorm chances will return late Monday/early Tuesday. Isolated convection may reach the southern Blue Ridge and far southwest Virginia by Monday night, but the greatest odds for showers and thunderstorms appears to be Tuesday. Moisture will linger through Wednesday, but the abundant cloud cover might somewhat limit the thunder chances. Weak high pressure could bring a brief reprieve during Thursday morning, but another low pressure system may approach from the west by late Thursday. && .AVIATION /12Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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As of 645 AM EDT Friday... As the cold front passes through this morning, surface and low- level winds turn from the southwest to west, then with a second short wave, winds become northwest this afternoon. Models suggesting some stronger gusts through this evening. Should be around 20-25kts with highest gusts near ROA/TNB/HSP. Winds will relax after sunset and will remain through tonight. Upslope stratocu appears likely today across the WV mountains so some sub-VFR at BLF/LWB expected. A few showers possible but coverage is too low overall to have in the tafs. Extended Aviation Outlook... Some upslope mountain showers may occur through Saturday night. VFR conditions are expected Sunday and Monday under dry, high pressure. The probability of precipitation and sub-VFR ceilings and visibilities increases on Tuesday ahead of a low pressure system in the central United States.
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&& .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...BMG NEAR TERM...BMG SHORT TERM...VFJ LONG TERM...PW/VFJ AVIATION...BMG