ROANOKE, Va. – A Flood Watch is in effect for the southern Blue Ridge until 10 a.m. Wednesday.
As the afternoon continues building rain is causing some flooding. The risk is somewhat low, but a Flood Watch is in effect through Wednesday morning in the NRV with a Flood Advisory for Tuesday afternoon in Grayson and Wythe Counties.
The rainfall on Tuesday built up in the NRV early in the day causing some flooding already.
That flooding prompted a Flood Advisory for areas experiencing high water. Be extra careful as you drive through the afternoon.
Heavy rain in neighboring counties prompted a Flood Watch since the environment is set up better for flooding. Be careful through the night into Wednesday morning of any high water.
A White Christmas was only in our dreams, but the radar lit up in green at times on Christmas Day.
It will continue to do so Tuesday, as low pressure swirls to our west.
Expect most showers through at least midday to be near and to the west of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
As the air begins to rise more, rain will fill in later in the day and turn more widespread.
Our heaviest rain and, therefore, our chance for localized flooding will arrive Tuesday evening into the overnight hours.
This slug of moisture will pull away to the east throughout the morning on Wednesday.
[DOWNLOAD OUR APP: Stay on top of the rain whether you’re here or traveling Tuesday into Wednesday]
Temperatures stay steady Tuesday, but a little breeze from the west Wednesday will push us well into the 50s and lower 60s.
As our area of low pressure finally gets shoved east Friday, it will try to produce scattered rain showers and mountain snow (mostly above 3,000 feet).
We’ll then turn windy Saturday with a dry and seasonable New Year’s Eve.
Come New Year’s Day, we’ll track a separate storm system that will try to mesh with our colder air in place.
Could this spell snow? It’s too soon to know for sure, as there are multiple moving pieces a week out.
At the moment, the odds are low. That said, a pattern like this will need to be watched in the coming weeks and months.