Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA
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474 FXUS61 KRNK 112335 AFDRNK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 635 PM EST Tue Nov 11 2025 .SYNOPSIS... The cold air mass in place continues to moderate as high pressure builds into the area. Expect generally increasing temperatures and dry conditions through most of the week. It will remain windy, with gusty westerly winds persisting through Thursday before diminishing. The biggest concern over the next several days will be the wind and its potential to contribute to elevated fire danger. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 635 PM EST Tuesday... Key Messages: 1) Gusty winds relax some tonight, then increase again by tomorrow morning. 2) Temperatures will moderate, but gusty winds will help keep it feeling cool still. Passing clouds over the area for this evening, but otherwise quiet and dry. Winds have decreased somewhat, but will pick back up after midnight tonight, especially along and west of the Blue Ridge. Tomorrow will be another windy day, but warmer than today. No major changes made for the evening update, forecast remains on track. Previous discussion below... As of 200 PM EST Tuesday... A deep trough over the eastern seaboard continues to move east today, but the cold and windy air mass in its wake is still affecting the Mid Atlantic. The air mass will slowly moderate through tomorrow, with temperatures responding to rising heights and additional sunshine. At the surface, high pressure will continue to gradually build in from the southeast, helping to bring in W/SW winds and boosting temperatures some. Some additional clouds are possible tonight as another piece of mid/upper level energy moves across our area in continued troughing aloft. Temperatures a few degrees either side of zero will advect in at 850mb, keeping tonight several degrees warmer than last night, although still expect temperatures to drop below freezing everywhere. Expect temperatures pretty close to normal for highs along and east of the Blue Ridge (upper 50s to low 60s) tomorrow, while the western mountains will hover in the upper 40s to mid 50s, a few degrees below normal there. The other most prominent sensible weather facet will be the wind, which today is gusting into the 25 to 35 mph range. Expect a drop in speeds tonight, but winds pick back up tomorrow, and may begin gusting on ridgetops before daybreak. As a result of the dry air mass, sun, and winds, the combination of the wind and very low dewpoints will result in good drying conditions. Please see fire weather discussion below. Confidence is high in the near term forecast. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... As of 1230 PM EDT Tuesday... Key message: 1) Gradual warming trend expected through the end of the work week. The upper level trough that has brought well below average temperatures for this time of year is expected to continue to slide east of the region on Thursday. In the aforementioned troughs wake, upper level ridging will start to build over the region. This will lead to a gradual warming trend over the region on Thursday and Friday, with highs on Thursday forecast to be in the low 60s east of the Blue Ridge, and low to mid 50s west of the Blue Ridge. By Friday as the upper level ridge continues to build over the region, 850mb temperatures are expected to recover to around 5-10 degrees Celsius. This will allow for highs to build into the mid to upper 60s east of the Blue Ridge, and upper 50s to low 60s west of the Blue Ridge. While temperatures recover areawide, skies will remain partly cloudy on Thursday, as mid and high clouds push over the region from the west/northwest due to some weak mid and upper level disturbances. Late on Friday, a weak disturbance is expected to push east into the region out of the central US that may bring some light showers to mountain locations. Chances currently remain low for accumulating rainfall at this time. Overall, expect a gradual warming trend through the end of the work week, with no rainfall forecast through Friday. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 200 PM EST Tuesday... Key Messages: 1) Mostly dry weekend 2) Uncertainty around an early week system Broad high pressure remains over most of the Mid-Atlantic over the weekend, keeping our weather dry and quiet until Sunday. A weak front that is fairly well distanced from its central low will meander through the area on Sunday. This introduces a slight chance of very light rain showers to the western slopes Sunday afternoon. What will likely be more impactful is the system that comes near the start of next week. There is little consensus on the timing, with some deterministic models indicating a late Monday arrival, and others going even later into Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to be warm, so there is good confidence in a rain event, but the intensity and longevity are still questions that the forecast doesn`t have answers for yet. Expect mild temperatures for this forecast period, hovering around normal to just above normal. && .AVIATION /23Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... As of 630 PM EST Tuesday... VFR conditions prevail across the region this evening, aside from passing mid to high clouds this evening, but ceilings will remain VFR through the current TAF period, ending at 00Z Thursday. The main concern through the TAF period will be the wind. West- southwesterly winds will decrease slightly through the overnight along and east of the Blue Ridge, but will continue to gust above 20 knots in the west. Wind gusts increase again shortly after sunrise Wednesday for all terminals, between 20 to 30 knots. Low level wind shear around 45 knots at 2000 ft is expected between 04Z and 14Z for KBLF, KBCB, KLWB, and KROA. Turbulence is also likely through the afternoon Wednesday as wind speeds increase. Winds will be mainly southwest through tonight and Wednesday morning, before becoming mostly westerly after 16Z Wednesday. Forecast confidence is high. .EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... Gusty winds continue into Thursday, but gusts lessen to 15 to 20 kts. High pressure moves overhead promoting clear to partly cloudy VFR skies. Conditions should be mainly VFR Friday and Saturday, but a few MVFR ceilings and/or showers may move into BLF and LWB during that time. && .FIRE WEATHER... As of 200 PM EST Tuesday... Key Message: 1) Elevated fire weather conditions are expected the next several days. The combination of wind and low humidity will result in good drying conditions. In spite of recent precipitation, leaf litter will dry quickly, becoming crunchy and receptive to fire. Temperatures continue to trend warmer, and this combined with gusty winds and low humidity will contribute to an increase in fire danger across the region, but especially east of the Blue Ridge, beginning tomorrow. Wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph will be common with gusts up to 40 mph across the ridgetops Wednesday, and a very dry airmass will be in place Thursday, when gusts will be around 20 to 30 mph. For Wednesday, winds will be more westerly in the mountains and SW for the Piedmont. For Thursday, expect mainly WNW winds, backing to a more pure westerly direction Friday. Both Wednesday and Thursday are a concern, with the peak potential for fire concerns being Thursday, when these factors work to produce higher vapor pressure deficits. Winds are forecast to diminish by Friday, lessening the effects of fire spread. However, Friday is expected to be the warmest day of the week with highs in the 60s, and still favoring good burning conditions. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...SH NEAR TERM...AS/SH SHORT TERM...EB LONG TERM...VFJ AVIATION...AS/SH FIRE WEATHER...PM/SH