Massanutten Resort Snow Report

484 FXUS61 KRNK 280812 AFDRNK Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Blacksburg VA 412 AM EDT Wed Oct 28 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Maintaining a fire weather section for those concerned with burning conditions. Models still on track for low level clouds moving from I-95 corridor into the Piedmont and Blue Ridge from the east this morning while upper level clouds overspread the western CWA from the west. && .KEY MESSAGES... Dry weather is forecast through Saturday, trending wet for Sunday and persisting through the first full week of November. Friday will be the warmest day of this week. && .DISCUSSION... Upper level ridge of High pressure is still in control. This will maintain the dry weather theme in spite of periodic cloudiness. Low level easterly winds will transport shallow layer of moisture into the area from the east today... lingering tonight before waning Thursday. A transient area of upper level clouds (cirrus) will move from west to east across the region today, exiting the region tonight. This upper level cloud element is the remnants of the weather system that brought flash flooding to the southern Rockies this past weekend...the system now reduced to a band of cirrus. All of this extra cloud cover will likely keep temperatures muted today...but still close to the seasonal normals. The warmest day of the week is expected to be Friday as winds turn westerly, skies clearing and giving a boost to the numbers. Model Output Statistics (MOS) indicate highs a full 10 degrees above normal for Friday which means 70s for most folks and around 80 degrees in the Piedmont. As for the next chance of rain. Models have been consistent with advertisement of a southern stream short wave to cross the country over the weekend, bringing moisture into the area beginning Sunday November 1st. Some rain may sneak in here late Halloween night, but all models still insist on dry conditions for the Trick-or-Treat crowd Saturday evening. Strength of the initial wave Sunday appears weak, but models do indicate southeast upslope flow which should enhance the rain chance along the Blue Ridge. A series of disturbances are forecast to follow during the week, so it looks promising for additional rainfall, and this should help snuff the late October dry spell. && .AVIATION /07Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Multi-layer clouds expected today. Easterly low level winds will transport moisture from the Atlantic coast and I-95 corridor westward toward the Blue Ridge with layer of MVFR to IFR cigs developing from east to west across the Piedmont this morning with impacts to air terminals mainly east of KROA. Meanwhile, high level cirrus, cloud bases AOA 20kft will overspread the mountains from the west this morning...passing overtop of the lower level clouds east of the mountains this afternoon. Models suggest the low level cigs should gradually lift during the afternoon, but then thicken and lower again tonight. Tafs follow this trend with onset of low clouds this morning improving this afternoon, then redeveloping tonight. Upper level clouds will be transient, passing over the area during the day, then clearing aloft tonight. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK... Expecting morning low clouds and stable conditions early Thursday with sub-VFR, improving to widespread VFR Thursday afternoon as the clouds lift and dissipate. Friday is expected to be VFR with little or no cloud cover. Clouds increase over the weekend trending sub-VFR Sunday into Monday as a storm system moves from west to east across the region. && .FIRE WEATHER... Dry weather is expected through the end of the month with near to above normal temperatures. The next appreciable chance for rainfall looks to be Sunday with additional opportunities for rain during the first week of November. With respect to the next few days, today will feature variable amounts of cloud cover, stable conditions with poor mixing. Thursday will be similar, but improving during the afternoon. Friday is expected to the most favorable with respect to burning conditions, temperatures warming 10 degrees above normal. Some locations in the Piedmont may reach 80 degrees. Transport winds will be from an easterly direction today and near calm Thursday. Friday will be the best day for ventilation and mixing, transport winds from the northwest. Pattern change will bring above normal chance for rainfall November 1-7. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...None. NC...None. WV...None. && $$ DISCUSSION...PM AVIATION...PM FIRE WEATHER...PM