Strong storms then snow possible Monday

A dynamic storm system will impact the region early Monday, bringing mountain wave winds, a line of strong to severe storms in the morning, and even some snowflakes by late morning into the afternoon.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:

Mountain Wave Winds (Sunday Night)

High Wind Watches will likely be issued tomorrow then upgraded to High Wind Warnings across the mountains Sunday evening as mountain wave winds develop.

• Wind gusts could reach 60–80 MPH in the mountains.

• Locations such as Camp Creek could see isolated gusts above 80 MPH.

• Power outages and tree damage may occur in the higher elevations.

Strong to Severe Storm Threat (3 AM – 11 AM Monday)

A line of showers and isolated storms will move west to east across the area early Monday morning.

• Heavy downpours and strong wind gusts will be possible.

• Despite limited instability, very strong wind dynamics could transport stronger winds to the surface.

• The Storm Prediction Center notes an isolated wind gust over 70 MPH cannot be ruled out.

Tornado Threat:

Very low, but not zero, due to limited storm fuel.

SPC Outlooks:

Because of the timing between the Day 3 and Day 4 outlooks, a full outlook has not been released for our area yet.

We will wait until Saturday morning to post any SPC risk maps when the full outlook becomes available to avoid any confusion.

Snow Potential (Late Morning – Afternoon Monday)

After the cold front moves through, temperatures will drop quickly into the 30s.

• Rain may change to snow, especially in the mountains and across Southwest Virginia.

• A dusting to around 1 inch of snow is possible in the higher elevations.

• Road impacts should remain minimal.

Prepare Now

Since the severe weather threat begins overnight, make sure you:

Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts while asleep.

Charge devices in case of power outages.

Stay weather-aware through the night.

We will continue to update the forecast over the next couple of days and will have live wall-to-wall coverage during severe weather warnings early Monday morning IF alerts are needed.