Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Weather columnist Kevin Myatt: Soaking rain set to break September dryness
Kevin Myatt is The Roanoke Times' weather columnist.
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@roanoke.com
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September is halfway over, and it's been dry.
Roanoke has had barely a half-inch of rain this month, while Blacksburg hasn't cracked a quarter-inch. Neither site has had more than a half-inch of rain in a single day since the Aug. 20-22 period.
That may change over the next couple of days.
A slow-moving low that has been spinning Gulf of Mexico moisture to our southwest will approach the region and begin to spread that moisture over us.
Additionally, east to southeast wind flow that develops between that low and a high pressure system to the northeast will begin to pull a steady stream of Atlantic moisture into Southwest Virginia. As that moisture glides up the Piedmont and into the Appalachians, the upslope effect will condense the moisture into rainfall.
There is a good chance of showers beginning tonight and continuing through Friday, possibly even longer.
Daytime highs will cool from the 80s we've been experiencing and nighttime lows will warm out of the 50s. Many of the next several days will likely hover in the 60s and 70s day and night.
Though cooler and drier weather is likely to return next week, there is still no sign yet of a leaf-turning blast of autumn chill on the horizon.
Weather Journal appears on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.




