Forecast Last Updated at Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at 4:58PM

Improvement Coming

We wanted to make absolutely sure... But the Snowman-O-Mometer retired for the season, summering in Cape Columbia, Canada. He's worn out his welcome this year, but we'll be excited to see him again next fall.

It'll be a dry to mostly dry evening - a few stray light showers are dotting the area by just enough to throw in a barely worth-it mention. Thursday brings one last round of showers, mostly in the afternoon and evening. Clouds decrease Friday in spite of stray light shower potential. After that, we are on a clear path for the foreseeable future with warmer temperatures Monday and Tuesday.

Merlefest begins tomorrow! Weather for the festival looks good overall; however, we must get past Thursday. Thursday has scattered afternoon and overnight showers, possibly a rumble of thunder. After that, dry but cooler than average weather rules. For details about Merlefest weather, see our Hour-by-Hour Merlefest Forecast.

Voting is underway in the 2019 Blue Ridge Parkway Calendar Photo Contest. We received over 700 entries in the contest (the most ever). Many thanks to all the photographers for the great response. Voting will continue until May 1, 2018.

Wednesday Hi: 55 Lo: 43 Lots of clouds; NW wind 5-15 mph

Thursday Hi: 60 Lo: 42 Lots of clouds; Scattered mostly PM showers, maybe thunder; Light South wind

Friday Hi: 62 Lo: 40 Becoming partly cloudy; Much improved, but cannot completely rule out a stray, light shower; NW wind 5-10 mph

Saturday Hi: 63 Lo: 40 Becoming clear; Temperatures slightly below seasonal norms

Sunday Hi: 61 Lo: 37 Clear; Well-earned pleasant weather

Further Out

Monday - Sunny; Very nice; A tad warmer; High in the upper 60s; Low in the mid 40s
Tuesday - Sunny; Now we're talking!; High in the lower 70s; Low near 50 degrees

Forecast Discussion

A trough in the Eastern U. S. dominates our weather for a couple more days. The first of two surface lows rounding the base of the trough is now well to our east along the coast. Another is in Louisiana and will pass to our south Thursday night. The result will be cooler than average weather and showers mostly during the afternoon and evening Thursday. The eastern trough breaks down early next week and warmer weather arrives.

Low pressure that plagued us for two days is exiting NE before the next arrives. I can't completely rule out an evening shower, but today has been much nicer than the last two days.

Showers return Thursday, mostly in the afternoon and evening. Temperatures remain on the cool side of average.

As the second low exits into the Atlantic and high pressure in from the west, a stray daytime shower is possible Friday but significant improvement is the theme. Clear skies rule beginning Saturday. Temperatures remain a bit cooler than is typical for late April; however, warmer weather is coming next week!

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