Searing summer heat continues Thursday, but rain chances return, too!

Tonight features mostly clear skies like we’ve experienced over the past few nights with temperatures falling back into the mid 60s. With a light breeze in place once again, some patchy fog is possible as we head toward dawn, mainly near the rivers. You’ll notice a bit more mugginess!

Thursday features the risk for a few scattered storms as Wednesday’s front that was to our north stalls over central West Virginia and the spine of the Appalachian Mountains. We’ll still see plenty of dry time and it’s still a hot day on the way with high temperatures once again near 90. More of us will be dry than wet, and this rain isn’t really going to help much with the current drought issues our region continues to face. However, our mountain friends will have the best chance at seeing a downpour or two – those downpours will be moving very slowly, so the potential is there for some very localized heavy rainfall – mainly in the late afternoon into the early evening hours. In addition, the strongest storms could produce strong wind gusts.

Friday sees the risk for a few more scattered showers, as our aforementioned front scoots away to the east and a stronger cold front approaches from the west. Our area will be in the hot and humid sector of a new system moving in, as a warm front lifts to our north, which means it’s a hot and humid day with highs once in the upper 80s. Once again, storms will be focused especially over the mountain counties and could produce very localized heavy rainfall.

Saturday will provide the best chance for rain over the next several days, as a cold front pushes through. The air behind this front is cooler and there should be enough lift along the front for scattered showers and storms. It’s not a washout of a weekend day, but you’ll want the umbrella if you plan to be out for a while. The best chance for showers and thunderstorms will be during the afternoon and early evening hours. Some storms could produce strong wind gusts. Temperatures will be cooler for highs with the afternoon clouds and showers as we reach the mid 80s.

Sunday provides the risk for a few storms still yet in isolated form, as Saturday’s front scoots down to our south. However, that front is still close enough across the New River Valley in Virginia to throw a few showers our way. We’ll be much drier than Saturday but expect a few “doppler freckles” to pop up in the afternoon with highs in the upper 70s as cooler air ushers in.

Labor Day sees a return in our northerly breeze as high pressure takes control once again for our holiday, which will usher in cooler air with highs in the mid 70s.

Tuesday continues the sunny trend with high pressure still in control with highs remaining slightly below average in the mid 70s.

Wednesday keeps the sunshine around, but a weak trough scooting by will provide the risk for an isolated shower, mainly over the mountains, with highs in the upper 70s.

Looking ahead in your extended forecast, we are dry once again and warming back up, as an area of high pressure scoots off to our east and we begin to pick up a southeasterly flow once again. High temperatures will jump from the low 80s on Thursday to the mid 80s by Saturday with plenty of sunshine expected each day.

TONIGHT
Mostly clear. Not as cool. Lows in the mid 60s.
THURSDAY
Scattered afternoon storms, best chance over mountains. Still hot! Highs near 90.
FRIDAY
Scattered storms. Highs in the upper 80s.
SATURDAY
Showers and storms likely, especially in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s.
SUNDAY
Few scattered storms. Cooler. Highs in the upper 70s.
LABOR DAY
Mostly sunny. Nice! Highs in the mid 70s.
TUESDAY
Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.
WEDNESDAY
Isolated shower in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s.
THURSDAY
Mostly sunny. Highs in the low 80s.
FRIDAY
Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.
SATURDAY
Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.

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