Kevin Myatt, Author at Cardinal News

Fall leaves dot the water of a creek at Appomattox National Historic Park on Tuesday, October 24. This stream seemed to have ample water but various stages of drought are affecting much of the western two-thirds of Virginia. Photo by Kevin Myatt.

El Niño cured drought and reversed winter in Virginia 21 years ago; might that happen again?

by Kevin Myatt October 25, 2023October 25, 2023

There is no sign of a similar wet pattern developing yet, with dry days ahead that could reach into the lower 80s in some locations this weekend.

Snow covers the Rhododendron Gap Trail in the Grayson Highlands-Mount Rogers area on Monday. Courtesy of Mark Skaggs.

Weather

Virginia saw its first snowfall this week

by Kevin Myatt October 18, 2023October 17, 2023

Reinforcement of colder air this weekend will bring out more sweaters and, perhaps, more high-elevation snowflakes.

Deep snow covers the landscape on the fire road leading to McAfee Knob in western Roanoke County in December 2009. The Dec. 18-19, 2009, winter storm occurred during an El Niño pattern and dumped a foot or more of snow over about the western two-thirds of the Cardinal News coverage area in Southwest and Southside area. Photo by Kevin Myatt.

Weather

5 things to keep in mind about El Niño and snow

by Kevin Myatt October 11, 2023October 12, 2023

Lots of things get said about the link between the equatorial Pacific and our winter, but nothing is etched in stone.

A mix of early fall colors, lingering summer greens and puffy cumulus clouds decorates the scene at Blacksburg on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Warm days will be giving way to much cooler temperatures by the weekend into early next week. Photo by Kevin Myatt.

Weather

Time to frost some pumpkins and paint some leaves

by Kevin Myatt October 4, 2023October 4, 2023

Cooler temperatures arrive this weekend — maybe some snowflakes in West Virginia’s mountains? — but no sign of substantial rainfall anytime soon for increasingly dry Southwest and Southside Virginia.

Wytheville spreads out through its valley, as seen from High Rocks in Big Survey Wildlife Management Area southeast of the town in Wythe County. Photo by Kevin Myatt.

Weather

Focus on Wytheville and a wrap-up of Ophelia

by Kevin Myatt September 27, 2023September 26, 2023

Second in series focusing on Cardinal News locales examines a crossroads for weather in our region. Also, a quick look back at Ophelia, a storm at the crossroads of seasons.

The projected path, with a "cone of uncertainty" in which it could vary east and west, for the coastal storm that may become Tropical Storm Ophelia. Courtesy of National Hurricane Center

Weather

Coastal low may morph into tropical storm; more rain for Southside than Southwest

by Kevin Myatt September 21, 2023September 21, 2023

A breezy, damp to wet day is likely Saturday across most of Cardinal News coverage area, perhaps excluding a few counties in the Southwest corner.

Cumulus clouds dot a September evening, as seen from Poor Mountain Natural Area Preserve in southwest Roanoke County, on Wednesday, September 13. Summer is transitioning to fall, the exact timeframe of that occurring depending on varying definitions and variable weather patterns. Photo by Kevin Myatt.

Weather

Might weekend storm portend winter? Also, a look back at summer

by Kevin Myatt September 20, 2023September 22, 2023

Fall began Sept. 1 on the meteorological calendar. Saturday’s start of autumn on the astronomical calendar may bring a windy soaking to parts of Virginia.