Virginia — Leaves swirl across the streets of Blacksburg this morning, pushed by a rising west wind signaling change ahead. Travelers in southwest Virginia and West Virginia’s eastern ridges will want to hold tight to car doors—and travel plans—through the next 24 hours as gusts strengthen across the region.
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook, warning of west to northwest winds topping 40 mph today and into Thanksgiving morning. These winds will be strongest along the Blue Ridge and higher elevations, where travel for high-profile vehicles could be challenging, especially on I-81 and Route 460.
After a few early sprinkles clear, skies turn mostly sunny with a mild afternoon near 62°F. By evening, colder, drier air surges in. The transition brings sharp gusts and falling temperatures—lows near 30°F by sunrise Thursday.
Thanksgiving Day itself will bring calmer weather for gatherings, though it will feel brisk. Expect mostly sunny skies, highs near 39°F, and wind chills dipping into the upper 20s during morning hours.
Friday and Saturday stay dry but cool, with highs in the low 40s and lows in the upper teens to 20s, signaling an early winter tease for the New River Valley. By Sunday and Monday, clouds increase with rain chances returning—an early hint of a broader storm system developing nationwide.
Long-range models suggest a major Arctic front could sweep across the U.S. between December 1–5, likely sending temperatures plunging across the East and raising the potential for early-season snow in higher terrain.
Five-Day Outlook (Wed–Sun)
• Today: Mostly sunny, windy, 62°F.
• Thursday: Sunny, 39°F, windy early.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, 33°F.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, 42°F.
• Sunday: Rain chance, 45°F.
