Kevin Myatt is The Roanoke Times' weather columnist.

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• We got graupel, but not on official record
• Moisture could get caught up in cold blast
• Forecast for Weather Journal: Partly print, with frequent Internet
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• Sprinkles or flurries possible Tuesday, but maybe something bigger for the weekend?
• For now, it looks like a quiet, mostly mild week ahead for SW Virginia
• Coldest morning of winter so far likely across much of Southwest Virginia; Tuesday precipitation looking doubtful
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It won't rain every moment now through the weekend. But every day, there is a chance of rain.

A slow-moving front wagging back and forth across our area the next several days will serve as a guide wire for storm systems moving out of the central United States.

So close to the front, any weak disturbance will be able to trigger showers as Gulf of Mexico moisture is pulled northward. As a result, there is a chance of rain each day between now and at least Sunday, but it won't be a constant rain. Friday could even see some warm sunshine with temperatures topping 60.

With a stronger low pressure system and cold front late in the weekend, there could be heavier rain about Sunday, followed by a temporary shot of seasonably cold air.

Otherwise, it will be showery and mostly mild.

The focus of the colder weather will remain in the central and Western states, likely through Christmas and beyond. That will limit cold intrusions in the East to an occasional brief shot.

Chances for wintry precipitation will be minimal, though as Tuesday night's freezing rain threat a few counties north of us showed, it is still possible when the brief cold shots and moisture hook up just right. Some mountain snow showers may also occur behind the stronger cold fronts, like the one early next week.

This will be a good period for some help with the long-term drought, but it won't make the snow fans happy.