Current Conditions
Laurel Ridge

Temp: 48.4°F

Forecast Last Updated at Friday, March 12, 2010 at 7:01AM

PM Heavy Rain Threat; Colder/Unsettled Weekend

Patchy light rain or drizzle can be expected today as skies stay generally cloudy. A solid band of showers with the potential for an embedded thundershower will move through this evening. Some heavy rainfall will be possible when this passes through early tonight. Weekend weather will be colder with rain and snow showers (elevation dependent).

Friday Hi: 57 Lo: 44 AM fog; Mostly cloudy; Perhaps a daytime shower, but heavier/steadier during the evening/nighttime; Maybe a thundershower; SE wind around 10 mph, gusting to 30 mph on the mountaintops tonight

Saturday Hi: 48 Lo: 36 Generally cloudy; Cooler; Daytime rain showers mixing with & changing to snow on the mountaintops; Snow showers for most areas Saturday night; NW wind 10-20 mph

Sunday Hi: 40 Lo: 35 Spring Forward! Mostly cloudy & colder; A few snow showers or flurries, with some rain/drizzle in the valleys; NW wind 5-15 mph

Monday Hi: 41 Lo: 35 Still mostly gray; Leftover snow or rain showers (elevation dependent); Still chilly

Tuesday Hi: 48 Lo: 34 Leftover early drizzle/flurries; Still lots of clouds; Temperatures still below normal

Further Out

Wednesday - Mostly cloudy; Seasonably cool; High in the upper 40s; Low in the mid 30s
Thursday - Becoming partly sunny; High in the lower 50s; Low in the lower 30s

Forecast Discussion

A strong cold front's coming and it will push through the mountains tonight. Ahead of it, we're going to be in a mild but soupy air mass today with mostly cloudy skies and just some patchy light rain or drizzle. When the front approaches this evening, a band of heavier showers and thundershowers will move through. Rainfall rates could be quite heavy for a few hours this evening, and with all of the recent/melting snow cover, we're going to have to be very mindful of flooding.

After the front gets by us, colder air will arrive this weekend as large upper level low pressure system lumbers across the region. Rain showers will be sure bet for Saturday. As colder air arrives aloft, snow showers will be possible by Saturday afternoon across the higher elevations. Saturday night and Sunday, snow levels will drop to roughly 3,000 feet in elevation, allowing most folks to see a few snow showers. Some light accumulations will be possible at the mountaintop locations, but no significant accumulation for most High Country cities.

As the upper low pulls away, a slow moderation in temperatures will occur next week, although clouds will be difficult to shake. A system passing by to our south will spread more clouds into the area by midweek. We'll be watching for light rainfall potential as well.

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