Blacksburg, Va. – Southwest Virginia and neighboring northwest North Carolina will enjoy another day of unusually cool July weather before a gradual warmup and increasing thunderstorm chances arrive for the weekend. Below-normal temperatures will persist through Saturday, offering a break from midsummer heat before warmer, more humid conditions return by Sunday.
According to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, isolated showers and thunderstorms today will remain mainly confined to areas along the North Carolina-Virginia border. Afternoon highs will reach 71 to 75 degrees across the Piedmont and 66 to 71 degrees in the mountains, making for a comfortably cool day across much of the region.
Rain chances increase Friday as scattered showers and thunderstorms become more widespread. High temperatures will range from 72 to 78 degrees in the Piedmont and 65 to 71 degrees in the mountains, with the greatest rainfall expected during the afternoon and evening.
The unsettled pattern continues Saturday, when highs climb to 74 to 77 degrees across the Piedmont and 68 to 74 degrees in the mountains. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop primarily along the Blue Ridge, which could bring brief heavy rain, lightning and localized travel delays.
By Sunday, warmer air returns with highs reaching 82 to 86 degrees in the Piedmont and 76 to 81 degrees in the mountains. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to become more numerous across the Blue Ridge and surrounding areas as humidity increases.
Residents with outdoor plans this weekend should keep an eye on the forecast and have a way to receive weather alerts, especially during the afternoon and evening when thunderstorms are most likely. Additional updates or advisories may be issued as the weekend pattern evolves.
