Warm weather ahead, taste of summer arrives this weekend

Tonight features mostly clear skies with low temperatures dipping back into the upper 30s. A few areas of patchy frost are once again possible in the high mountains.

Friday will be dry for most of the day, with mostly sunny skies to start. We’ll see a southwest breeze kick in with high pressure kicking off to our east. With a warm front approaching from our west, a couple of showers can’t be ruled toward dusk but the majority of us will be dry. With our southwest breeze kicking in, temperatures will be warm, with highs in the upper 60s. Temperatures over in the mountains will be cooler, with highs in the 50s as a result of an easterly wind. Wind gusts as high as 30 mph will create an elevated fire risk during the afternoon in combination with low humidity values.

Saturday brings our warm front north through the region, which will provide the risk for a few showers. However, despite the showers being around, it’s a warm day on the way, with high temperatures in the low to mid 70s as a southwest breeze continues, which will be breezy at times. There will be plenty of dry time on Saturday, with the best chance for showers during the first half of the day.

Sunday is when we really see the heat begin to crank, as we see a warm and more humid air flow develop with our cold front to our north. As a result, it’s a breezy day with temperatures spiking to around 80 degrees under partly sunny skies. It will be a taste of summer for sure to wrap up the weekend.

Monday will be even warmer than Sunday! We will have a cold front approaching from our west, which will increase clouds late in the day, but with a southwest breeze at the surface under a continued ridge of high pressure over the Atlantic down to our southeast, high temperatures will crank into the low to mid 80s. For context, Beckley’s record high temperature for Monday is 85 degrees and Bluefield’s record high temperature is 86 degrees – we won’t quite get to those levels, but we sure will be awfully close!

Tuesday sees our cold front cross – at this point during the morning hours – which makes for more of a day of rain shower activity than thunderstorms. Showers will be likely at times, especially before noon and it’ll be a cooler day with clouds around. Despite the clouds and occasional showers, we will still be above normal for this time of year with highs in the mid 70s.

Wednesday keeps the chances for showers and perhaps a rumble or two of thunder around with a secondary front pushing through. This front will usher in cooler air for the end of the work week, with highs in the upper 70s.

Thursday continues our shower risk with an area of low pressure scooting through down to our south. Its close proximity will kick a few showers into the region. We should still see sunshine with high temperatures in the 70s.

Looking ahead, it’s been a warm pattern and it continues to be mild, though slightly cooler than what we’ll be seeing this weekend. An area of low pressure moving through to our southeast on Thursday will drag cooler weather into the area for Friday, as highs struggle to reach 70 degrees. A northerly wind flow will continue into the weekend, with high temperatures Saturday into Sunday in the 60s with plenty of sunshine with high pressure in control.

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We are in spring forest fire season in West Virginia – this means don’t burn between 7 AM and 5 PM through May 31st. Low humidity values during the daytime, along with breezier and warmer conditions will at times increase the fire threat, hence the burn ban during most of the daytime. Follow all regulations or be faced with potential consequences, such as fines! In Virginia, the spring fire season continues through April 30th – don’t burn before 4 PM.

TONIGHT
Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 30s.
FRIDAY
Partly sunny. Increasing clouds late. Highs in the upper 60s.
SATURDAY
Few showers, especially early. Highs in the low 70s.
SUNDAY
Partly sunny. Warm! Highs near 80.
MONDAY
Partly sunny – near record warmth! Highs in the low to mid 80s.
TUESDAY
Showers likely. Highs in the mid 70s.
WEDNESDAY
Few showers. Highs in the upper 70s.
THURSDAY
Few showers. Highs in the upper 70s.
FRIDAY
Few showers continue. Highs in the 70s.
SATURDAY
Mostly sunny. Highs in the 60s.
SUNDAY
Mostly sunny. Highs in the 60s.

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