While Thursday will be very warm across the Commonwealth, with highs in the 60’s and 70’s, Friday will be even warmer with highs in the low to mid 80’s across Central and Southern Virginia! These temperatures are what we usually see well into the month of May! Temperatures will be a little cooler across the Shenandoah Valley, mountains, and Highlands, but I doubt we’ll hear anyone complaining about upper 60’s to mid 70’s.
Records on Friday range from the 70’s in the Valley to the low to mid 80’s east of the Blue Ridge. There’s a decent chance (at least 65 percent) that we could tie or break records by Friday afternoon, especially Richmond, Norfolk, and Washington, D.C.
A few areas of low pressure will move from across the Plains into the Ohio River Valley. The severe weather threat across the Mid-Atlantic is LOW at this time. The severe weather risk will be mainly confined across the Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio River Valley regions.
TWO fronts will cross into the Mid-Atlantic from late Friday into Saturday. The first front will bring some showers and thunderstorms across Western Virginia late Friday into Friday night, with another round of precipitation across much of the Mid-Atlantic region Saturday morning, possibly lingering into Saturday afternoon. Saturday looks to be mainly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms.
Rainfall will range anywhere from one quarter inch to one half inch eat of the Blue Ridge to as much as 2 inches across Far Southwest Virginia into the mountains of North Carolina. The axis of the heaviest rain (along with any severe weather) will be across the Tennessee and Ohio River Valley regions.
The Storm Prediction Center has a MARGINAL RISK for severe weather across portions of the Ohio River Valley on Friday, with “thunder” (non-severe) across the Mid-Atlantic region. ANY severe weather will be isolated, with strong, gusty winds being the main threat.
Temperatures Friday night may remain well into the 60’s, before the main cold front arrives by Saturday morning, dropping our temperatures back into the 40’s and 50’s. Temperatures will continue to drop on Saturday, along with gusty winds at times.
Remember, no one said you can’t go outside into your backyard, or just sit on your porch. PLEASE remember to take care of yourself! We all NEED fresh air and it’s important to have a clear mind. Also, practice meditation or yoga at home. Take time for you. I know that the next several weeks are going to be difficult, but we all WILL get through this together!
