Virginia starts the morning under a steel-gray sky as temperatures sit near 21 degrees in Blacksburg. A northwest wind drives wind chills down to around 11 degrees. Light flurries fade, but slick patches linger on bridges and overpasses. Drivers along I-81 and Route 460 should watch for black ice through late morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, isolated snow showers are tapering off with little additional accumulation expected. However, subfreezing road temperatures allow moisture to refreeze. Untreated surfaces, decks, and sidewalks may stay icy for several hours.
This is prime flash-freeze season in the New River Valley. Even minor melting during the afternoon can refreeze quickly after sunset. If you’re traveling, reduce speed and allow extra stopping distance.
Skies turn partly sunny later today, with highs climbing to 40 degrees. Clouds increase tonight with lows near 32. Wednesday brings a milder push, reaching 52 degrees with only a slight chance of rain before 1 p.m.
Rain chances increase Wednesday night and peak Thursday. An 80 percent chance of rain could bring between a quarter and half an inch by late day. Wet roads and ponding are possible during the commute. Thursday night keeps a 50 percent chance of rain before drying out Friday with sunshine and highs near 54.
The weekend trends warmer, with Saturday reaching the lower 60s under sunny skies. Early next week may feature another rain and snow chance by Sunday night into Monday, but longer-range signals point to gradual warming into early March.
Five Day Outlook for Blacksburg, Virginia:
Today: Partly sunny, high 40.
Wednesday: Slight chance of rain, high 52.
Thursday: Rain likely, high 52.
Friday: Mostly sunny, high 54.
Saturday: Sunny, high 62.
