ROANOKE, Va. – Rain buildup since Thursday means today’s showers present another risk of flooding. The risk is more limited than it was on Saturday, but there is still a Flood Watch in the Highlands and NRV.
Rain builds slowly and steadily through the day. Large downpours are unlikely, but some can develop and there is even a chance of thunder. Rain totals are mostly under 0.5 inches, but with the rain already at the surface it doesn’t take as much for flooding to begin.
Showers are light in the morning. By noon they spread further north adding showers to the counties in the Flood Watch.
By 3:00 PM showers are at their full strength.
Showers continue, especially west of I-81, through 6:00 PM. Most showers are light, but some heavy rains can develop.
Shower intensity eases off after sunset. By 9:00 PM there are few showers left, but it takes a few hours longer for waters to recede.
The flood threat is concentrated north and west, but there is still a chance further east. The Level 2 risk reaches all the way up into New England; we are on the very southern edge of the medium threat.
Some good news is that severe storms are unlikely. The only Level 2 risk in the country is well to our west, and no Level 1 risk gets closer to us.
Monday gives us a chance to dry out, but isolated storms on Tuesday and Wednesday make it hard to enjoy the seasonable temperatures this week. Behind that front there is a nice stretch of cooler, comfortable days.
We get sunshine on Monday, but a few sprinkles can develop. It really takes until Thursday for the nice stretch to begin. Once it does it sticks around even into next week.