Cool October conditions begin to warm up

Temperatures around Mecklenburg county this Friday morning were a bit chilly. Lows of 37, 41, 38, and 36 degrees were recorded respectively at South Hill, Boydton, Chase City, and Clarksville. The forecast temperatures were low enough for NWS Wakefield to issue a Frost Advisory until 9:00 a.m.

Now, how can frost form when the temperature is above the freezing mark (32 degrees)? The answer lies in the difference between the height of the the official thermometer reading (4.5 - 6 feet) and the ground surface. With calm winds, clear skies, and dry air overnight the ground temperature can drop several degrees lower than the official temperature. This graphic illustrates:

After today's chilly start temperatures will warm into the upper 60s this afternoon as the sun's heating takes over. Light breezes will continue out of the north as the region is sandwiched between a retreating low pressure system off the East Coast and high pressure which sprawls over the eastern half of the nation. 

The weekend looks to continue the warming trend, with afternoon highs climbing to the low 70s by Sunday. Mornings will still be a bit cool with thermometer readings dropping into the upper 30s to the low 40s around the county. Bright sunshine will dominate this next-to-last weekend of October, with no rain expected anytime soon.