BLACKSBURG, Va. – Southwest Virginia will see one last mild afternoon Sunday before a sharp cold front sweeps through, slashing temperatures by as much as 25 degrees and ushering in the season’s first wintry chill. Afternoon highs will reach the low to mid-60s in Blacksburg and Roanoke, but colder air will rush in late Sunday night, dropping lows into the 20s by dawn Monday.
According to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, the front will bring scattered rain showers to the Blue Ridge and foothills late Sunday into early Monday. Behind the boundary, temperatures will tumble quickly—Monday highs will struggle to reach 40° across the New River Valley, while mountain towns such as Bluefield and Boone may not escape the 30s. Light snow or a rain-snow mix could develop over the higher ridges west of the Blue Ridge Parkway Monday night into Tuesday morning.
Travelers along I-81 and I-77 should be prepared for rapid temperature drops and reduced visibility in brief snow showers. Pavement temperatures are expected to remain above freezing, limiting any accumulation to grassy or elevated surfaces, but slick bridges are possible in mountain passes early Tuesday.
Cold air will remain entrenched through midweek, with Tuesday morning lows in the teens and 20s regionwide. The NWS advises residents to protect sensitive plants, outdoor plumbing, and pets from the freeze. Drier weather will return by Wednesday with gradual warming toward late week.
This strong early-November front signals the start of a more winterlike pattern as the region transitions from fall warmth to its first true cold spell.
