ROANOKE, Va. – Get ready for some big changes to our weather in the next few days.
It all starts with Friday, which will turn warm and sticky at times throughout the afternoon. Highs will range from the middle 70s in the higher elevations to upper 80s in parts of Southside.
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A few isolated storms will begin developing after 11 a.m. or Noon, riding northeast through parts of the NRV, Roanoke Valley and Highlands. It’s unlikely that these turn severe.
Pop-up storms continue throughout the afternoon, with the “main event” starting west of the Parkway after 4 p.m.
This will move east until about 9 p.m. before we quiet down for the evening.
Anything that moves through late this afternoon and this evening will have the potential to produce severe weather.
While we don’t anticipate an outbreak, we do expect frequent lightning with any storms that do develop. Localized wind damage and/or power outages will be possible. A storm or two may contain some hail. While the threat for a tornado is low, it’s not entirely zero.
Make sure to download our app for the latest radar, alerts and forecast updates.
By Saturday, our storm system lingers in the upper levels. This will produce occasional rain showers, while a wind from the north and northeast keeps things unseasonably cool at the surface.
That’s only amplified by Sunday, as the cool wedge puts afternoon temperatures in the upper 50s and low to mid 60s.
We’re talking high temperatures that will be more typical for the early-to-middle part of November. In fact, record “cool highs” are in jeopardy for the Roanoke Valley, Lynchburg area and the Highlands Sunday afternoon.
This isn’t necessarily what you’d expect out of the “unofficial start to summer.”
We’ll break out of the cool wedge in time for Memorial Day. Temperatures start in the upper 40s and lower 50s first thing in the morning, but we’ll see increasing sunshine and highs around 75-80° during the afternoon.
We’ll turn warmer with storm chances rising through the second half of next week.