Weather
Southwest Virginia Weather Oct. 17–21: 30s to Upper 60s
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA — Temperatures in the New River Valley are expected to tumble toward freezing Saturday night, Oct. 17, before a stretch of sunshine and gradually warmer afternoons brings more comfo
By Mason Reid · 2026-10-14T09:15:49.945Z
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA — Temperatures in the New River Valley are expected to tumble toward freezing Saturday night, Oct. 17, before a stretch of sunshine and gradually warmer afternoons brings more comfortable conditions early next week.
According to the National Weather Service, Blacksburg in Montgomery County could see overnight temperatures fall to around 33 degrees Saturday, just one degree above freezing. The chilly night follows a mostly sunny afternoon with highs reaching only 54 degrees.
The temperature shift comes after a much warmer start to the week, with Blacksburg expected to reach 82 degrees Wednesday and 78 degrees Friday.
That represents a 24 degree drop in afternoon highs between Friday and Saturday, signaling a pronounced change in the area's autumn weather.
Near Freezing Temperatures Saturday Night The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center reported Wednesday that strong high pressure moving south from Canada would bring a substantial cooldown to portions of the central United States later this week.
While the national discussion highlighted potential first freezes across parts of the central U.S., the local Blacksburg forecast places Saturday night's low just above the freezing mark.
Residents in colder pockets of the New River Valley should monitor updated local forecasts, particularly where temperatures may differ from those in Blacksburg.
The colder conditions arrive after a breezy Friday night, when temperatures are expected to fall to around 42 degrees.
By Saturday afternoon, highs near 54 degrees will make for a considerably cooler day than Friday.
Sunshine Returns as Temperatures Recover The colder pattern is expected to ease Sunday, with sunshine and afternoon temperatures climbing to around 58 degrees in Blacksburg.
Another chilly night follows, with lows near 36 degrees Sunday night.
By Monday, temperatures should return to the lower 60s, followed by highs in the middle 60s Tuesday.
The gradual warming offers a noticeable improvement from Saturday's cold conditions, while mostly sunny skies provide an extended stretch of dry weather in the Blacksburg forecast area.
The available National Weather Service data supports these temperatures specifically for Blacksburg. Conditions elsewhere across Southwest Virginia, including higher elevations and neighboring valleys, may vary.
Five Day Weather Outlook: Oct. 17–21 Temperatures below represent National Weather Service forecasts for Blacksburg, Virginia, in the New River Valley.
Saturday, Oct. 17: Mostly sunny and cool, with a high near 54°. Mostly clear overnight, with temperatures falling to around 33°, just above freezing. Sunday, Oct. 18: Sunny, with a high near 58°. Clear overnight, with a low around 36°. Monday, Oct. 19: Sunny and milder, with a high near 62°. Partly cloudy overnight, with a low around 44°. Tuesday, Oct. 20: Partly sunny, with afternoon temperatures reaching approximately 66°. Overnight temperatures were not available in the supplied forecast.