First the Cold, then the Heat

Cool and dry air will settle in over the area tonight, allowing temperatures to fall into the mid 30s in parts of NW VA. A frost advisory is in effect for Albemarle, Nelson, Greene, Orange, Madison, and Culpeper counties overnight, with the expectation of lows in the range of 33-36 degrees. The weekend pattern still features a large ridge of high pressure building over the SE US, resulting in highs in the upper 80s and a few low 90s.

Flirting With Summer This Weekend!

A sweet taste of Summer-like heat will settle into the Commonwealth this weekend, with highs climbing into the upper 80’s and low 90’s both Saturday and Sunday. The average high for late April in Richmond is about 71-73 degrees. However, this will not be unusual to have very warm weather in late April. In fact, here are the record highs set in the end of April:

April 24: 94 (1925)
April 25: 96 (1925)
April 26: 96 (1960)
April 27: 96 (1990)
April 28: 93 (1957)
April 29: 94 (1974)
April 30: 93 (1974)

So if Richmond reaches 89 or 90 degrees on Saturday and Sunday, that will still be a good five degrees shy of the standing record highs for those dates. It has also only been a couple of years since we have had such a warm April day like what we are expecting this weekend. The last time April temperatures broke 90 degrees was April 25, 2007 with a high of 90. Last year, the hottest April day was April 18, 2008 with a high of 87 degrees. And just in case you’re wondering, the hottest it has ever gotten in Richmond in April is 96 degrees. --Carrie

Few Lingering Showers Early Thursday AM

A batch of showers is moving through Eastern Virginia early Thursday morning, from the Northern Neck to northern Hampton Roads. These showers are very light, and will move out of the Commonwealth around sunrise.

Skies will become clear through the day, and a ridge of high pressure will begin to build into our region Friday. This will lead to an extended period of very warm temperatures, especially this weekend! Highs will climb into the upper 80's and low 90's across Central Virginia Saturday and Sunday.