ROANOKE, Va. – We’ve been spoiled in recent days and weeks with a taste of “false spring,” which has led to certain plants and trees blooming weeks ahead of schedule. That could prove to be harmful once a prolonged cold spell settles in.
As for Wednesday, afternoon temperatures will be relatively comfortable. We’ll be breezy at times, but it won’t be as strong as what we saw Tuesday.
Once the wind calms down, temperatures drop into the upper 20s and lower 30s at night into Thursday morning. That’s when we see the chance for widespread freezing temperatures and/or frost.
Looking later into the week, we’ll be tracking a storm system that overruns some of our cooler air. Most of what we see will be in the form of chilly rain, but some snow/sleet may mix in to some higher elevations north of the Roanoke Valley.
A second system comes in Sunday, and it will mostly drop some chilly rain. Some higher elevations - even farther south of the Roanoke Valley - could see a brief wintry mix as well. The odds of a significant snowstorm are low.
These two systems help to set off a much colder weather pattern heading into the following week. Tuesday will be very cold and windy with highs in the 30s and 40s. Overnight lows will drop into the 20s with concerns of a hard freeze.
Download the free 10 News and weather apps for updates on the forecast as things become a little more active.