Cool Friday, warmer Saturday, then wild weather Sunday?

A backdoor cold front parked south of Mecklenburg county Thursday, allowing another variant of a cold air damming wedge to settle in. Thus yesterday's afternoon highs only reached the low to mid-60s vs. the 70s in western Virginia. Today - Friday - that wedge is still in place, keeping the skies overcast and capping today's high temperatures again in the low 60s. There will likely be a few peeks of sunshine later this afternoon.

Today is also the final day of Virginia's Severe Weather Awareness Week. The emphasis today is on outdoor weather safety, with this lightning safety video of prime importance for those who work or play outside. That's an important topic, especially with severe weather knocking on the doorstep this weekend.

During the day Saturday the wedge is forecast to break as that boundary lifts back northward ahead of the next weather system approaching from the west. Thus tomorrow looks to be a bit warmer, with highs back in the low 70s under partly sunny skies. Then comes Sunday...

The aforementioned weather system is a powerful spring storm, threatening both the Midwest and Gulf coast states with severe storms today and Saturday. That same system will shove a strong cold front across Virginia on Sunday, and the Storm Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk - level 2 out of 5 - for the Old Dominion:

The main threats for Mecklenburg county looks to be damaging straight-line winds along with torrential rain and the always dangerous lightning. A brief tornado or two isn't out of the question, either. The chance of showers will increase Sunday morning, with the cold front and the "wild weather" expected anytime after two o'clock that afternoon. Ahead of the front afternoon highs will again reach the low 70s.

So, have more than one way of receiving weather warnings Sunday and stay tuned to the forecast!