BLACKSBURG, VA – A sharp chill drifts across the New River Valley this early Tuesday, the kind that carries a faint metallic scent of dry leaves and distant woodsmoke. After a mild start to the week, a noticeable turn toward colder, clearer nights is about to take hold — and forecasters say patchy frost could be the first real hint of winter for parts of Southwest Virginia.
According to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, high pressure is strengthening over the Appalachians and will dominate through the end of the week. As skies clear and winds calm, ideal radiational cooling will drive temperatures into the low to mid-30s by Thursday night, especially in sheltered valleys near Christiansburg, Floyd, and Pulaski. Residents should plan to protect tender plants and bring pets indoors, as frost formation appears increasingly likely Friday morning.
Daytime highs will remain comfortable in the upper 50s to near 60 degrees under bright October sunshine. Winds from the west will stay light but occasionally gusty along higher ridges, carrying crisp air down the valleys. Travelers along I-81 should expect excellent visibility but brisk dawn temperatures — the kind that may leave a shimmer of frost on windshields before sunrise.
To be fair, this isn’t the first freeze just yet, but it’s a strong signal that late fall is settling in. Models hint at a colder pattern returning next week, possibly bringing the first subfreezing lows to higher terrain by Halloween week. For now, it’s all about clear skies, frosty mornings, and the unmistakable feel of Virginia’s fall shift underway.
Five-Day Forecast for Blacksburg, VA:
Tue: 68/40 – Increasing clouds; calm, mild afternoon.
Wed: 59/39 – Sunny; light west breeze.
Thu: 59/34 – Sunny; patchy frost developing late.
Fri: 58/35 – Frost early; bright and cool.
Sat: 60/42 – Partly sunny; seasonable warmth.
