Virginia — Cold morning air grips the New River Valley, leaving a thin sparkle of frost on rooftops and a light crispness drifting across open fields south of Blacksburg. Clouds build slowly along the ridgelines, hinting at a change that could squeeze early Thanksgiving travel later today.
Increasing moisture pushes toward the mountains through midmorning. Residents should expect thickening clouds, cool breezes, and gradually dimming daylight by early afternoon. Travel conditions on Route 460 and I-81 stay manageable at first, but roads may turn damp and slick by the evening as rain spreads in after about 6 p.m. According to the National Weather Service, rainfall stays light to moderate, yet cold pavement could amplify slick patches, especially through the higher passes north of town.
Tonight’s system brings a steadier rain with temperatures hovering in the 40s. To be fair, no snow is expected on paved surfaces—but models do hint at an early Winter Tease on grassy slopes west of the valley, where colder air sometimes undercuts incoming moisture. Travelers heading toward Giles or Bland County should watch for brief, wet mix possibilities on the highest ridges before dawn Wednesday.
Wednesday turns noticeably brighter with partly sunny skies and a mild push into the lower 60s. This window favors holiday shopping, campus errands, and arrival-day travel for families entering town. Clouds return Wednesday night with only a slight rain chance.
Thursday stays mostly cloudy and cool, with steadier rain returning Thursday night. That setup leads to a wetter Friday, when heavier showers may slow travel along I-81 from Salem to Christiansburg. Some pockets of fog could form early Friday if winds ease in the valley.
The weekend brings scattered showers Saturday but improves by Sunday, offering clearer skies for remaining Thanksgiving arrivals across southwest Virginia.
