The weekend: no change until Sunday night

Yes, you read that blog title correctly. There is a change in the weather on the way, but it won't arrive until Sunday night. Meanwhile, the current pattern of hot sticky conditions with afternoon and evening thunderstorms will prevail over the weekend.

Today - Friday - the National Weather Service office in Wakefield has issued a Flood Watch beginning at 2:00 p.m. A weak "cold" front which has been hovering over northern Virginia will sag into the area this afternoon. It won't provide any relief from the heat or high humidity levels across Mecklenburg County, but it will act as a trigger for showers and thunderstorms. 

As a result of that boundary's southward movement the Storm Prediction Center has much of the Old Dominion under a Slight Risk - level 2 of 5 - for severe weather today:

As usual folks should keep an eye to the sky and an ear to weather warning sources, taking shelter if warnings are issued.

Temperatures this afternoon will climb back into the 90s before the precipitation arrives. The aforementioned front will then edge back northward tonight, leaving the heat and mugginess in place locally. Saturday and Sunday both look to feature similar conditions, with afternoon highs in the 90s followed by more showers and storms.

Now, about that previously mentioned change in the weather: A stronger cold front will come through Sunday night, pushed along by a subtle southward dip in the jet stream. The result will be slightly cooler and drier air to begin the next work week. It won't be a dramatic change, but it will be noticeable.