Blacksburg, Virginia – Residents across southwest and central Virginia should prepare for several rounds of thunderstorms through Tuesday, with the potential for damaging wind gusts, flash flooding and hazardous travel as a more active weather pattern returns to the region.
According to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop this evening as a disturbance moves across the region. While the overall severe weather risk remains Marginal (Level 1 of 5) today, some storms could produce wind gusts exceeding 60 mph, especially across the Eastern Piedmont, where isolated tree damage and scattered power outages are possible.
The threat continues Monday as a cold front approaches from the west. Forecasters expect another round of thunderstorms Monday afternoon and evening, with isolated flooding possible across the mountains before the risk expands overnight.
Tuesday is expected to be the most active day of the period as a developing low-pressure system combines with the advancing cold front to increase the potential for widespread thunderstorms. According to the National Weather Service, the greatest concerns include damaging straight-line winds, torrential rainfall and a more widespread flash flooding threat across southwest Virginia, the New River Valley, Roanoke Valley, Southside Virginia and the Eastern Piedmont.
Communities including Roanoke, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Lynchburg, Danville, Martinsville, Wytheville and Bluefield should monitor forecasts closely and have multiple ways to receive weather warnings. Drivers should never attempt to cross flooded roadways and should be prepared for rapidly changing conditions during the afternoon and evening hours.
The unsettled pattern is expected to continue through Tuesday, with additional watches or warnings possible as confidence in the timing and intensity of individual storm systems increases.
