Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA
Issued by NWS Blacksburg, VA
520 FXUS61 KRNK 151621 AFDRNK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 1221 PM EDT Sat Aug 15 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Less of a chance for severe storms today. Forecast updated with recent guidance. Aviation updated. && .KEY MESSAGES... Key Message 1: Chances for strong storms and flash flooding each day through Monday. && .DISCUSSION... Key Message 1: Chances for strong storms and flash flooding each day through Monday. Today we remain under NW flow aloft along with a stalled boundary near the southern tier of the CWA that has already allowed for morning convection to be tracking along. Daytime heating should allow for more scattered development going into this afternoon though CAM guidance is not impressive as coverage could be pretty limited. Nonetheless what does develop has the potential for some strong to damaging winds and very heavy rainfall given decent progged instability and high PWATs. The severe potential is not quite as high as previously thought and SPC has removed the Slight Risk from our area though keeps much of it in a Marginal Risk. Sunday looks to be a bit greater chance of severe development than today as bulk shear looks to increase along with a possible shortwave traversing the upper flow and a progged increase in instability. We are outlooked with a Slight Risk mainly across the northern CWA with a Marginal Risk most elsewhere. The threats should remain focused on strong to damaging downburst winds and heavy rain/localized flash flooding. Another shortwave may allow for some enhanced development of convection overnight Sunday as well. Another upper disturbance looks to push across the area Monday along with an attendance frontal boundary that will again allow for daytime showers and storms. The stronger shear and instability may be more confined to the southern CWA and SPC keeps the Marginal Risk to our southern area as well. Behind this front we will at least see a pattern shift with a drier airmass and more zonal flow aloft which will allow for a dry midweek. This is relatively shortlived however as moisture and potential disturbances allow for shower and storm chances back by Thursday and Friday. && .AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Some lingering MVFR cigs should lift to VFR this afternoon with a general cu field near 4-6 kft. Scattered showers and TSRA possible afternoon into evening again that could cause VRB gusts and reduced VSBYs. Overnight into Sunday morning, expect LIFR and lower cigs with reduced VSBYs as a low could deck is forecast near 200-500 ft and patchy fog possible. Sunday looks to have perhaps a higher chance of showers and thunderstorms. Winds today generally under 7 kts out of the NE for the eastern sites and NW for the mountain sites then becoming mainly calm overnight. Sunday winds out of the SW to west with increased magnitudes generally under 10 kts. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... Pattern trend continues with chances for storms Monday then dry for Tuesday/Wednesday. Mainly VFR outside of any storms and late night fog/stratus. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...AB AVIATION...AB