The winds of autumn arrive

Southerly winds will pick up in intensity ahead of a strong cold front crossing the Appalachians today (Sunday). Gusts up to 30 mph will briskly stir the air as temperatures climb into the upper 70s under mostly sunny skies. Unfortunately this next boundary won't bring much moisture with it to alleviate the increasingly arid conditions across Mecklenburg County.

The Storm Prediction Center has placed Virginia under a Marginal Risk - level 1 of 5 - for severe weather later today, chiefly due to the potential for damaging straight line winds:

Gusty showers and perhaps a thunderstorm or two could mix down some of the stronger winds from a few thousand feet overhead as the front moves through. Rainfall amounts will be limited to a tenth to perhaps up to a quarter-inch of liquid collecting in local gauges. Precipitation looks to hold off until after dark, with sunset occurring at 6:32 p.m. EDT.

The work week will then begin sunny, dry, and breezy. Except for Tuesday the rest of the week will see afternoon highs in the mid to upper 60s. Tuesday's high will top out about ten degrees warmer than that ahead of another dry cold front. The next chance of rain to settle the dust won't arrive until sometime next weekend.