Southwest and Southside Virginia Weather

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.

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.

Storm clouds brew beyond Lane Stadium as Virginia Tech and Purdue players line up for the opening kickoff on Saturday. After a brief delay to start the game, another would be required several minutes later lasting over 5 hours as these towering cumulus clouds eventually developed into a powerful thunderstorm with historic rainfall, hail, gusty winds and fierce cloud-to-ground lightning. Courtesy of Al Jones.

Weather

Hokie high water: Flotsam and jetsam from the Lane Stadium deluge

by Kevin Myatt September 13, 2023September 13, 2023

Hail damaged the scoreboard on the rainiest Virginia Tech game day on record Saturday, but thankfully, the lightning bolts missed everyone.

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The sky is seemingly aflame over southern Roanoke County on Wednesday, August 30, as the late-day sun shines on the underside of the cirrus shield of Hurricane Idalia passing southeast of our region. Several other sunset photos from readers are featured in today's Cardinal Weather column. Photo by Kevin Myatt.

Weather

Blazing hurricane sunset precedes one last blaze of glory for summer heat

by Kevin Myatt September 6, 2023September 6, 2023

Temperatures this week have matched the hottest periods of July and August, but the atmospheric pattern ahead is looking more like fall for Virginia.

Weather

Hurricane Idalia spins in fall-like days for Southwest and Southside Virginia

by Kevin Myatt August 30, 2023August 30, 2023

Some parts of southern Virginia didn’t need a hurricane to get up to a foot of rain early this week.

Red sky and hay bales, as seen in this photo earlier this month from Bent Mountain in southwest Roanoke County by Kay Moore, are suggestive of late summer gradually moving toward fall. The past week, and the next one, have had the flavors of summer heat and autumn cool mornings. Courtesy of Kay Moore.

Weather

Summer heat peaks Friday, but sharp cooldown into next week may hint at fall

by Kevin Myatt August 23, 2023August 25, 2023

We’re not ready just yet to trade sweating for sweaters in Southwest and Southside Virginia, but cooler air from Canada will once again short-circuit a heat wave.

Weather

Does August have late sizzle for Virginia? Anything like 40 years ago?

by Kevin Myatt August 16, 2023August 16, 2023

There are signs of a heat wave building by the weekend into next week, but it’s a big stretch to expect a 1983 redux.

A satellite view of Hurricane Isabel in 2003 as it tracks northwest from an eastern North Carolina landfall over the state of Virginia. Isabel dealt more damage over a wider area than any tropical system that has affected Virginia in its historical record. Courtesy of National Weather Service.

Weather

7 things to know about hurricane season in inland Virginia

by Kevin Myatt August 9, 2023August 8, 2023

We don’t live on a coast in Southwest/Southside Virginia, so we don’t get the most destructive impacts, but tropical systems can be troublesome. Also, a look at Lynchburg’s record wet July.

The shelf cloud of an advancing squall line rolls over downtown Roanoke on Friday, July 28. Photo by Lisa Rowan.

Weather

How thunderstorms develop, organize and intensify

by Kevin Myatt August 2, 2023August 3, 2023

A primer on thunderstorm formation accompanied by storm photos from Southwest and Southside Virginia during the past few weeks.

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