ROANOKE, Va. – UPDATE
The Weather Authority Alert Day issued for Saturday, Jan. 27 has been lifted.
Saturday Afternoon Update
Meteorologist Marshall Downing joined us at 5 p.m. to give you an update on our Weather Authority Alert Day.
Showers kicked off in the afternoon and stay consistent through the evening. Rain keeps falling for most through midnight, and some high accumulations create a risk of flooding.
Flood chances are highest in our southern zones, but we could see some high water north of US-460. The main storm risk stays well to our south, but rumbles of thunder are possible.
The Flood Watch in effect covers all of our counties through Sunday morning. Try to avoid driving if you can through Saturday night.
Rain is moderate early in the evening with higher rainfall rates just before 11:00 PM. We get a break from rain for a few hours before another batch of heavy rain in the early hours of Sunday.
After that piece moves east showers linger into Sunday. Accumulations are much lighter, and we start drying out in the late afternoon.
Once we dry out wind speeds rise with some gusts reaching 40 mph. Cooler air works in to bring highs back to the 40s.
Saturday Morning Update
A flood watch has been issued for most of Southwest Virginia until tomorrow morning. Almost everyone sees rain, but some see more than others.
The flood potential expands across much of the southeast and mid-Atlantic today.
Locally, we are under a level 2 threat for seeing excessive rainfall which could then lead to flooding.
Rain showers start off light and more isolated this afternoon, but by 6 PM they are a bit more scattered.
Periods of heavy rain move in tonight around 8 PM for the NRV and Roanoke Valley.
As these showers pass, the heavier pockets of rain shift east with time. Southside, Lynchburg and the Roanoke Valley have the best chance of seeing a few thunderstorms.
Rainfall totals could be anywhere from a quarter inch all the way up to 3 inches. However, parts of each zone have the likelihood of seeing at least an inch of rain by tomorrow morning with some spots seeing significantly more than others.
Afternoon temperatures get into the 50s for just about everyone. Areas of Southside, Lynchburg and the Roanoke Valley could see the 60s again. Areas that are warmest is where the flooding potential is increased. The warmer the air, the more moisture the air is able to hold. This would equate to higher rainfall potential.
Windy conditions will move in this afternoon and will be featured within some of the heavy pockets of rain we see.
Friday Evening Update
Meteorologist Marshall Downing joined us at 10 p.m. to give you a more detailed look at what’s expected during our Weather Authority Alert Day.
Friday Afternoon Update
Our next system is approaching from the southwest. Showers stay away through Friday night and even into Saturday morning, but in the afternoon the system takes over.
Showers stay consistent through the afternoon into the evening. Rainfall rates range from light to medium, and since the rain is so consistent some flooding can develop.
We get a short break from rain with another round of heavier rain coming around midnight. That keeps the flooding risk into Sunday morning.
Rain totals are above one inch for most with more than two inches possible in some of our southern counties.
The rain totals we see are representative of the heavier rain coming with this system. Similar totals fall from Connecticut to Alabama.
Rain this week mostly fell in our southern counties with accumulations under one inch. Since recent rains were light the flood risk is lower than some systems in the last few weeks.
A flood risk extends from Mississippi to Pennsylvania with the main risk in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. Traveling southwest is tough through the weekend.
The Level 2 flood risk is mostly south of US-460, but high rain totals north could get localized flooding to develop.
Showers linger into Sunday morning, but we dry out in the afternoon. Showers later in the week stay very light giving you plenty of opportunities to get back outside.
A storm system will push northward out of the Gulf, giving us an increasing chance of rain Saturday.
This will gradually spread from southwest to northeast during the afternoon.
Pockets of heavy rain will become likely during the evening and night Saturday before wrapping up Sunday morning.
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Rain totals will range between one inch and about two inches.
This, in addition to recent rain and melted snow, will give us the chance for localized flooding.