Roanoke, Virginia – Snow showers could briefly coat grassy surfaces across parts of southwest Virginia by sunrise Thursday, creating short bursts of reduced visibility along the Blue Ridge before temperatures begin a rapid rebound heading into the weekend.
According to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, snow showers are expected to start around sunrise, peak during mid-morning, and taper off by noon as colder air pushes in behind a passing cold front. Most areas along and west of the Blue Ridge Parkway, including Roanoke, Blacksburg, and Wytheville, could see a dusting up to 0.5 inches, mainly on grassy or elevated surfaces.
Higher elevations will see slightly higher totals. Locations near Mount Rogers and the highest ridges of southwest Virginia and northwest North Carolina could receive 0.5 to 2 inches of accumulation before snow showers fade late in the morning.
Road impacts are expected to remain limited since warm ground temperatures should melt most snowfall quickly. However, gusty winds between 25 and 35 mph, with ridge-top gusts near 40 mph, could briefly reduce visibility while snow is falling.
Temperatures will hover in the 30s and lower 40s Thursday afternoon before climbing quickly Friday and over the weekend. Highs may reach the mid-50s Friday and 60s to near 70 degrees Saturday and Sunday across much of southwest Virginia.
Another front arrives early next week, sending temperatures sliding again with highs expected only in the 30s to mid-40s by Tuesday. Additional updates may be issued as the next system approaches.
