Blacksburg, VA – A hard chill grips the New River Valley this morning as temperatures hover in the upper 20s and a light wind cuts through open fields. But while skies stay clear today, a fast-changing weather pattern could turn messy by late Saturday — with rain, freezing rain, and even a brief snow mix possible before Sunday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Friday stays mostly sunny with highs near 34°F, while calmer winds take hold Saturday under partly sunny skies. The quiet stretch ends late Saturday night as moisture surges into the region from the southwest. With surface temperatures near freezing, a glaze of ice could form before sunrise Sunday, especially along shaded roads and bridges from Pulaski to Floyd and across higher terrain near I-81.
Meteorologists caution that even light freezing rain can create slick spots and hazardous travel. Rain will become steadier by midday Sunday as temperatures rise into the mid-40s, reducing icing potential but keeping roadways wet and slushy in colder valleys.
By Monday, sunshine returns briefly before another chance of freezing rain or a cold rain develops Tuesday — part of a broader early December chill settling east from the Midwest. The pattern marks an early “winter tease,” with colder-than-normal temperatures expected through the first week of December.
Travelers heading home after the holiday should stay weather-aware and allow extra time for slick conditions Sunday morning.
5-Day Outlook (Blacksburg, VA)
Friday: Mostly sunny, high 34°F.
Saturday: Sunny, high 41°F.
Sunday: Freezing rain early, then rain likely, high 46°F.
Monday: Mostly sunny, high 42°F.
Tuesday: Freezing rain possible early, high 40°F.
