AUTUMN

The wedge holds strong, resulting in cloud cover and below-average temperatures Wednesday

High temperatures reach the 60s under a gloomy, misty sky through Wednesday

Meteorologist Chris Michaels breaks down why some areas may see bright colors and why others may not

Any rain totals Saturday will be higher close to and east of I-95

Morning temperatures will give us a preview of early fall Friday and Saturday

Dropping humidity makes for much more pleasant weather Wednesday evening through Saturday

A cold front brings scattered storms and a cool-down while pushing Lee away from us

The rest of Monday is uneventful before scattered storms return mid-week

Another swing in temperatures gets us started for the month of September

Humidity levels drop Thursday, setting us up with a beautiful end of the week

Our weather will feel more like early autumn once Idalia moves offshore later this week

Temperatures climb from the 40s and 50s to the 80s and 90s in less than 48 hours

Temperatures rise to mid-fall levels despite occasional rain showers Wednesday

Temps return to near-normal levels before Nicole sends widespread rain into the region Veterans Day.

Temperatures may near record levels by next Monday afternoon

Fog can be dense at times early Tuesday morning before temps reach the 60s and 70s

The wedge keeps us cooler through the weekend before occasional showers on Halloween

Highs will only reach the 50s and 60s late in the week through Halloween

Cooler air returns ahead of rain by Halloween

Lows begin in the 30s and 40s and highs reach the 60s and 70s

High temperatures reach the 60s and 70s from Friday through at least next Tuesday

Our cold snap slowly begins to break heading into the weekend and early next week

Highs rebound into the 60s and 70s this coming weekend

Temperatures fall near or below freezing the next several mornings

November-like air rides in along a gusty wind Tuesday and Wednesday

Highs drop from the 70s this weekend to the 40s and 50s starting next Tuesday

A cold front brings in scattered showers Thursday afternoon

The second in a sequence of cold fronts will be the biggest difference-maker in our weather

We're taking Tasty Tuesday into our own hands this week!

We'll cool down briefly Friday before a bigger cold snap next week

Parts of the area will see frost develop Sunday morning

We go from 70s to frost late this week into the weekend

The remnant low of Ian will finally move offshore in the coming days

We'll eventually warm into the 70s this week too!

The worst of Ian's rain and wind moves out of here, leaving us cool with periods of light rain showers

The cool air ahead of Ian's remnants should lessen the threat for damaging thunderstorms

Spend some time outdoors before the remnant rain from Ian arrives

Much of this week will get us in the fall spirit prior to remnant rain from Ian

The wind howls again Sunday before a reinforcing shot of cooler air next week

Temperatures plummet into the 40s again come Saturday morning

Isolated showers precede strong wind gusts and a big drop in temperatures

It'll be 84 to 90° Wednesday but 45-51° first thing Friday morning

According to Dr. John Seiler, a Professor of Forest Biology at Virginia Tech, the autumn color forecast looks promising this year.

Some parts of the area hit 90° next week

We'll turn warmer/hotter heading into the final days of summer next week

We'll turn warmer and more humid late week into the weekend, resulting in more summer storms

Happy Monday and welcome to another edition of Beyond The Forecast!

Thanks to Autumn for sending us today’s Picture of the Day from Dublin!

The final week of 2021 could help push the year as a whole into near-record territory for parts of the area

Thursday morning starts in the 20s, but Christmas Day's temps reach the 60s for most of the area

Starting out the week very cold but most afternoons bring above-average warmth

The wind whips Monday with cold air continuing through Wednesday morning

Temperatures rise into the 60s and 70s Wednesday and Thursday afternoons

Multiple shots of cold air move through late this week into early next week

It'll feel more like early October once again Wednesday afternoon

Temperatures rise before rain, wind and cold return to the forecast

Some of the higher mountains will see snow develop Tuesday and Thursday

After the weekend, there will be several opportunities for rain.

Highs reach 80° in parts of the area Thursday before cold front #1 comes through

Afternoon temperatures get knocked back down a peg after Thursday's front

Chilly mornings and warmer afternoons will take us through Thursday

We see our typical combination of cool mornings and warm afternoons before another shot of cooler air arrives

Temperatures reach near record levels through Friday before plummeting through the weekend

Temperatures get to near-record levels later in the week

Perfect high school football weather Friday precedes a weekend warmup

Any interest in checking out the fall foliage this time of year?

Things will feel even more pleasant from Thursday through Saturday

Temperatures Tuesday top out in the 80s for many

Friday and Saturday mornings could feature the coolest weather we've seen in about four months

An additional 1-3" of rain will likely mean flash flooding in areas already hit hard by rain Tuesday

A cold front means big changes for the weather pattern the next three-to-four days

The wedge sets up shop through Tuesday before a strong cold front moves through

It will take about another five days for humidity levels to dip to autumnal levels

We trade Wednesday's summer heat for a preview of fall the next few days

The jet stream dips and lifts, causing temperature swings through the weekend

A few showers move into the area Sunday. Otherwise, Labor Day weekend looks nice!

From Dorothy’s childhood home to the iconic yellow brick road, this spot will have you feeling like you are actually on your way to the Emerald City.

Does anyone else hear “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” or “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and all of a sudden you’re taken back to a happy place in your youth?

The bulk of any rain that we could really use will be east of us through the end of the week

Enjoy the low humidity while it lasts!

After some patches of fog Friday morning, we make our way back into the 70s by the afternoon. High temperature forecast for Friday, 10/23/2020Even by Saturday, we’ll notice temperatures make their way into the 70s. FutureTracker - Saturday afternoonThis is all riding on a cold front that will completely flip the script this weekend. Saturday’s high temperatures will be in the 70s. We’ll warm back up by next week with rain chances increasing later in the week prior to Halloween.

Crisp, autumn air fades as sunshine goes to quick work throughout the rest of the day. Even as clouds develop near and east of the Blue Ridge Parkway, high temperatures will still rise into the 70s once again Thursday afternoon. Thursday's high temperature forecast - 10/15/2020This all changes once a cold front moves through the area Friday. Our high temperature will likely come early in the morning. Temperatures fall west of the Parkway and then level off in areas east of the Parkway throughout the day.

ROANOKE, Va. – With high pressure overhead, the sky is clear and our morning is crisp. Under a blue sky, high temperatures rise into the low to mid 70s area-wide with a comforting breeze from time to time. FutureTracker - Friday afternoonBehind this front, temperatures tumble into the upper 30s and lower 40s first thing Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon’s high temperatures will be in the 50s and 60s despite sunshine. With a clear sky and calm wind, most of us fall into the mid to upper 30s by Sunday morning.

As the front clears the area, however, drier air comes in on the back side to clear things up a bit and make things feel more comfortable. A clear sky at night will help temperatures fall into the 40s first thing Wednesday morning. That clear sky will also allow us to see a few things in the pre-dawn sky. That’s a sign of cooler air coming in that will place us in the 30s each morning this weekend. Low temperatures the weekend of 10/17 and 10/18/2020We’ll see our fair share of sunshine this weekend, but expect crisp, cool autumn air to rule the roost.

ROANOKE, Va. – Following our sixth round of tropical remnants this season, we’ll gradually see some changes throughout the week that lead to more favorable fall weather. Other parts of the area are seeing some fog and mist as well, thanks to the moisture that Delta has brought. Only a few showers are expected throughout the day as the remnants of Delta depart to the east. Lows by Wednesday morning fall into the 40s, thanks to the drier air, clearer sky and calmer wind. If you had fall activities planned this past weekend that fell through, this coming weekend looks much better for them!

A weak cold front passed by overnight, giving us just a few clouds to start out with Monday. High pressure camps out over the area into Tuesday morningA sky without clouds is like a bed without a blanket. Expect low temperatures overnight to fall into the low to mid 40s by first thing Tuesday morning. Overnight temperatures heading into Tuesday morningWe’ll start out chilly Tuesday morning, but highs will eventually make their way into the low to mid 70s. Exactly where this system goes and how strong it will be over land will determine how much rain and wind we see by Saturday.

ROANOKE, Va. – This time last year, we were breaking record high temperatures. Fast forward to 2020, and autumn is actually behaving like autumn. Forecast high temperatures for Friday, 10/2/2020A clear sky at night and a calming wind will allow the limited warmth to escape, leading to a colder night ahead. Not included in the graphic below are Jeter Farm, Layman Farms, Williams Orchard, Johnson’s Orchard and so many more. By Wednesday, high temperatures will likely be around 75-80°.

ROANOKE, Va. – With Thursday comes the start to October, and it is going to feel like it. High temperatures will climb into the 60s and 70s area-wide. Forecast high temperatures for Thursday, 10/1/2020Thursday also marks three months left to what has been one of the wettest years on record in our area. High temperatures Friday afternoon will be about 10° lower than Thursday, making things feel more like the end of October by Friday and Saturday. Fall festivities forecast for Saturday, 10/3/2020Not included are events at Williams Orchard, Woods Farm, Fall on the Farm on Richdale, Layman Family Farm and so much more.

Highs will be in the 60s in the New River Valley and Highlands. Wednesday's forecast high temperaturesIt will be breezy in the wake of Tuesday’s cold front, but not so strong that all the leaves fall off the trees. What we're tracking the rest of the weekBehind the front, we get a reinforcing shot of cold air courtesy of Canada. This will leave high temperatures in the 50s in the New River Valley and parts of the Highlands and in the 60s elsewhere. Autumn air arrives Friday through the weekend from CanadaMorning temperatures this weekend will start in the 30s and 40s.

In fact, temperatures will likely drop a few degrees throughout the day Tuesday in parts of the New River Valley, Roanoke Valley and Highlands. FutureTracker - midday TuesdayBy the afternoon, we’ll be tracking a line (or a broken line) of heavy rain slowly moving from west to east. As we head deeper into the night, the rain turns a little lighter and gradually moves out of the area. FutureTracker - Tuesday nightAfter the rain leaves, we’ll have collected about half an inch to an inch and a half of rain across the area. As the front passes and rain moves east, we’ll notice the wind pick up a bit Tuesday night into Wednesday.

ROANOKE, Va. – After a dry and warmer weekend, we’ll follow it up with warmer weather again Monday. A cold front will then inch closer late Monday night into Tuesday morning, leading to some pockets of heavy rain along the West Virginia-Virginia line moving from southwest to northeast. FutureTracker - Tuesday nightIt’s because of the slow movement of the rain, and the amount of moisture around, that we expect 1-2″ of rain area-wide. This could offer us one last round of heavy rain Wednesday night before passing off toward the east. What we're tracking by ThursdayCold front #2 comes in from the west late Thursday and brings in much less humid air.

ROANOKE, Va. – For the longest time, we have all heard that the start to fall or spring is when we receive equal daylight and equal darkness. In mid-latitudes, like our region, we receive roughly 12 hours and 8 minutes of daylight on the autumnal equinox (first day of fall). Sunrise and sunset times at the start of any season in 2020When do we receive equal daylight? The equilux typically comes a few days before the first day of spring and a few days after the first day of fall. This happens on a different date for different parts of the earth, while the equinox is a world-wide occurrence happening at the same exact time.

ROANOKE, Va. – In a year that has stood still and raced by at the same time, it’s still hard to believe that summer is coming to an end. We’ll fall into the 30s and 40s Tuesday morning which, for most of us, is not a record. This will warm things up by Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, as what’s left of Tropical Storm Beta looms west. What We're Tracking by Friday, 9/25/2020Beyond Beta, we’ll see a strong cold front come in from the west. As this dips south and grabs moisture from the Gulf, our chances for showers and storms will go up late Sunday into early next week.

ROANOKE, Va. – As soon as we say goodbye to Sally, we say hello to fall! The season of pumpkin spice and everything nice doesn’t officially start until Tuesday, but we’ll get a taste this weekend. Fall equinox - Sept 22, 2020Go figure...we may actually start to warm up after that point! But there’s one thing that could pump the brakes on the warm-up, and it’s wildfire smoke. Tracking wildfire smoke by Tuesday, 9/22/2020We’ll let you know if that changes at all, but it likely won’t be a burden on our health/air quality if it does make it back here.

Forecast lows for the morning of 9/16/2020We’ll be back in the 70s by Wednesday with a few more high level clouds streaming in off of Hurricane Sally . Where that meeting happens ultimately determines how much rain we get later this week. FutureTracker - Friday afternoon when Sally and a cold front could meet upThe farther south it happens, the less rain we see. Tracking Sally this Thursday and FridayRegardless, this front is going to take Sally out to sea in time for the weekend. We’re talking highs in the 60s and lower 70s and nighttime lows in the 40s and lower 50s.

As a front clears the area, humidity levels will gradually drop throughout the day. Humidity levels drop midweek and rise later onWe’ll start in the 50s again Wednesday with moisture levels increasing late Wednesday into Thursday. This comes as we track Tropical Storm Sally, which will likely become a hurricane Monday. Sunday's 11 p.m. track for Tropical Storm SallySally will weaken considerably before having any impact on us Thursday and Friday. The farther south the storm tracks, the less rain we see late Thursday into Friday.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – UPDATEThe Newport News Police Department is reporting that Autumn Williams has been safely located and Eliejah Chalid Hasani Williams is in police custody. State police have canceled the Amber Alert. ORIGINAL STORYState police have issued an Amber Alert Wednesday night for a missing 4-year-old they say is in “extreme danger.”Autumn Williams was abducted just after 6 p.m. from Newport News, according to Virginia State Police. State police believe Autumn was abducted by Eliejah Chalid Hasani Williams, who they describe as a Black male with brown hair and brown eyes who is 6 feet tall and weighs about 170 pounds. Williams was last seen driving a 2000 silver Nissan Xterra with Virginia tags “VGK-5046.”State police said Autumn was last seen wearing a blue Frozen princess gown.