• Dry, warmer end of the week
• The chance of precipitation returns on Sunday
• Warm up next week

OUTLOOK FOR THE WEEKEND

We start the weekend cooler with increasing cloudiness ahead of our next front, which will bring mixed precipitation early Sunday.

Dry, cool Saturday

The high air pressure will ensure calm and cooler conditions at the start of the weekend. The wind will be light, but will turn westerly and increase cloud cover as the afternoon progresses. The weather will remain dry during all holiday parades and festivities. Afternoon highs will reach the low 40s in most areas.

Wet, wintry mix Sunday

A storm system is approaching early Sunday, bringing precipitation that may appear as a mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet around sunrise, particularly in the mountains west of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

While most cases will be just cold rain, short, localized patches of black ice, including black ice, may form early in the day. As temperatures rise well above freezing by midday, precipitation turns to pure rain and roads become wet.

Rainfall coverage: Highest chance of rain along/west of the Blue Ridge Parkway by midday. Lower rainfall and amounts in the east (LYN/DAN).

WINTER MIX POTENTIAL: A very short and light freezing rain event could result in a layer of ice on elevated surfaces above 3,000 feet early Sunday morning. Sleet may also mix with the rain early in the day, but accumulation is not expected. In the north, beyond the Highlands, temperatures from cloud to ground may remain cold enough to allow light sleet and snow to accumulate.

This WILL NOT be a weather event that keeps you indoorsbut something to watch out for if you’re out and about in rural mountain areas early Sunday.

A very

Precipitation amounts: Between 0.10″ and 0.25″ possible, primarily along/west of the Blue Ridge Parkway

QUANTITIES OF WINTER MIXTURE: Freezing rain is possible, especially on elevated surfaces (trees, traffic signs, bridges). Accumulation of sleet is not expected.

Remember: sleet pings and freezing rain are here to stay.

There may be patchy rain into the afternoon, but we don’t expect all-day rain. It will be short-lived and very light.

WARM UP NEXT WEEK

The weather will be warmer behind the front next week. Afternoon highs will push into the 50s Monday through Wednesday before another cold front moves in toward the end of the week.

COLDER WEEKEND BEFORE CHRISTMAS

A cold front towards the end of the week will bring a chance for showers on Thursday, followed by another round of VERY cold air behind it. This will make for a bitter final weekend of shopping as the days leading up to Christmas begin, with highs potentially only reaching the 30s.

The next weekend worth seeing

It’s worth watching this part of the forecast closely, as several models suggest a system could form off the East Coast. Due to the inconsistency, confidence in the accuracy of the model is low because it is so far away. However, it is definitely “on our radar” and we will keep you updated.

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