2009.05.18
Another late-season frosty morning likely for Tuesday
It was a chilly morning across Southwest Virginia this morning. A repeat, maybe a tad colder, is likely on Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has issued a frost advisory for most of the New River Valley. A freeze warning is in effect for some of the mountainous counties to the north along the Virginia-West Virginia border. Don't even be surprised if the Roanoke Valley dips below 40 tonight.
The dry air that has settled into the area is allowing nighttime temperatures to plunge to near the very low dew point. The flip side is that that same dry air will warm more quickly in the day as the week goes along, and we will probably top 80 by Thursday. Warm days and cool nights, with wide departures between high and low temperatures, are likely to be the mode this week.
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We bottomed out at 30 deg. this morning. Surprisingly, we did not have a lot of frost but a very heavy dew. I guess the breeze and warmer ground temps helped keep things liquid. Will have to see what survived; I had too many flowers out to cover them all.
Comment by Julie — May 19, 2009 @ 9:40 am
The temperature at our house in Washington Co (seven miles west of Saltville) dropped to 29 degrees. Some frost but we had covered all tender flowers. No tomatoes or cucumbers in the garden yet. In Abingdon, 13 miles away, the Virginia Highlands Airport dropped only to the low 40's. Hope the growing season soon returns.
Comment by Michael R. Hoback — May 19, 2009 @ 1:56 pm
I had 32 in Wytheville and very heavy frost.....and it stayed on the roof and shady spots until 9am. An automated weather station just west of Wytheville recorded 30.4.
Comment by Rick — May 19, 2009 @ 4:38 pm
We only dropped to 36 in New River. We had a heavy fog this morning, so that may have helped hold temps up just slightly with the added moisture in the air. Got up about 40 feet in elevation and the fog was gone and it was nice and sunny for my commute.
Comment by Other John — May 19, 2009 @ 6:40 pm
Looks like very warm afternoons this rest of this week into the weekend ... near or above 80 in Roanoke each day, probably mid 70s or higher most everywhere in Southwest Virginia.
Comment by Kevin Myatt — May 19, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
That will be welcome. I could use a few pleasant, rain-free days to do some things around the house now that the ground is starting to dry out a bit.
Comment by Other John — May 19, 2009 @ 6:50 pm
First of all, Kevin, good luck on your upcoming trip!! If you see Margaret Hamilton (actress who played the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz!) heading north on a broomstick, go north!! :>) :>) Tomorrow may be one of those rare and fabulous days in which the temp climbs almost 40 degrees from the morning low. Early morning low around 40 (more likely 43 or 44 methinks at RRA) and late afternoon high near or at 80. I realize the following does not pertain to weather, but the couple who live directly above our back yard saw a young black bear on their back patio on Sunday evening.
Comment by Doug Griggs — May 19, 2009 @ 9:25 pm