Forecast Last Updated at Friday, December 13, 2013 at 1:26PM

Sloppy Saturday

Today... Enjoy the sunshine and slightly milder temperatures because Saturday looks sloppy.
Saturday... While not identical, the situation is similar to last Sunday where high pressure laid a foundation of cold air at the surface and moist air slides over the top from the southeast tonight and Saturday. The result will be a wintry mix starting late tonight and lasting into Saturday. Saturday morning, precipitation will gradually transition to freezing rain and eventually to just rain. Freezing rain will be most stubborn Saturday on the east side of the Appalachians (right along the Blue Ridge). Travel problem could be worse than last Sunday for a while Saturday because of heavier precipitation and colder precedent conditions. Precipitation will taper off in the afternoon and evening Saturday. Then a cold front sweeps through from the west late Saturday night.
Sunday... Behind the front, expect falling temperatures Sunday with morning snow showers and flurries. Snow accumulations Sunday will be only a dusting for most but up to 1" at higher elevations.

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Friday Hi: 38 Lo: 29 Filtered sunshine, then increasing clouds late; Chilly; Light wintry mix late tonight; Light SW wind (but SW 10-20 mph tonight at higher elev's)

Saturday Hi: 35 Lo: 30 Cloudy; Rain and freezing rain (especially east near the Blue Ridge); Precip gradually tapering off in the PM hours; Light SE wind (except SW 15-25 mph & gusty above 4000')

Sunday Hi: 30 Lo: 19 Mostly cloudy; Falling daytime temps; Mostly AM snow showers & flurries; NW wind 10-20 mph with gusts to 45 mph

Monday Hi: 31 Lo: 26 Lots of sunshine; Remaining cold

Tuesday Hi: 36 Lo: 27 Generally clear skies; A notch milder

Further Out

Wednesday - Mostly clear; Seasonal temperatures; High in the upper 30s; Low in the upper 20s
Thursday - Scattered clouds; Mild; High in the upper 30s; Low in the upper 20s

Forecast Discussion

After a cold Thursday, today will be a few degrees milder after a cold start. Clouds increase later today, an indication of "fun to come".

Saturday will be a cousin to last Sunday's weather, but may end up producing a few more travel problems because of more precipitation and colder temperatures leading into the event (making the ground colder). Cold temperatures will be stubborn at lower elevations as warmer/moist air overruns from the southwest tonight. Precipitation is expected to begin late tonight as a wintry mix of snow and sleet then transition to freezing rain early Saturday morning. On the west side of the Appalachians precipitation will transition over to just a cold rain fairly quickly; however, as one moves east and north, that transition will be slower. Freezing rain will hold on longest (into Saturday afternoon) east right along the Blue Ridge and north (into Virginia). Also Grayson County VA, will keep that sleet/snow mix a little longer. Everyone needs to check travel conditions before heading out Saturday morning.

Precipitation tapers off Saturday afternoon and evening. Also temperatures will slowly climb during the PM hours.

A cold front moves through late Saturday night allowing colder air to move back in from the northwest. Precipitation changes back to snow showers and flurries lasting well into Sunday morning. Temperatures will fall for much of the day Sunday on blustery NW winds. Snow accumulations however will be minimal... a dusting to 1" with the 1" limited to higher elevations (4000'-land and up).

After Sunday, expect quiet weather with lots of sunshine. Temperatures will gradually moderate Monday through Thursday.

Looking toward Christmas... Milder/wet weather may dominate next weekend, but the weather may swing back colder as we move into Christmas week. Just how cold, we cannot tell at this juncture, nor can we really make any comments yet about precipitation.

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