Residents across the Roanoke area and broader Southwest and Central Virginia should prepare for a potentially rough Tuesday. A cold front moving through the region will trigger two separate rounds of showers and thunderstorms. The stronger storms are capable of producing damaging winds, hail, and brief tornadoes.
Before that, Monday brings its own concerns. Patchy dense fog is expected to affect the morning commute for some areas, though conditions should improve once the sun rises. Rain chances remain low throughout the day, with a mix of sunshine and clouds expected. Spotty showers and storms cannot be entirely ruled out. Afternoon highs will reach the near-average 80s to lower 90s.
Monday Fog Alert for Morning Commuters
Drivers heading out early Monday should use caution. Dense fog patches could reduce visibility across parts of the region, particularly before sunrise. Be careful out there. Conditions are forecast to clear gradually through the morning hours, giving way to a partly cloudy afternoon with limited storm activity.
Two-Wave Storm Threat Arrives Tuesday
The more significant weather arrives Tuesday, when a cold front sweeps across Southwest and Central Virginia. According to WFXR meteorologist Kara Thompson, the first wave of storms is expected in the morning, with a cluster of showers and thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts. That initial round is forecast to be most concentrated along and west of the Blue Ridge, with only isolated activity expected east of the mountains.
The afternoon and evening bring a second, more dangerous round. As the cold front fully pushes through, scattered showers and storms are expected to redevelop — and these carry a greater potential for severe weather. Damaging winds exceeding 60 mph represent the primary threat, though hail and isolated brief tornadoes are also possible…