The warmth continues this week

The jet stream remains well north of Mecklenburg County this week, keeping the cold air at bay for at least another week. Today - Sunday - will be mostly cloudy while still being much warmer than average for early March. After morning lows in the mid- and upper 60s(!) afternoon temperatures will top out in the mid-70s. 

A few showers will dot the landscape today ahead of a cold front which is still west of the Appalachians as this is written. That boundary will slowly make its way eastward, finally easing through the area near midnight. The Storm Prediction Center has southeastern Virginia under a Marginal Risk - level 1 of 5 - for severe weather today, but any stronger storms look to occur south and east of Mecklenburg County.

However, this nearby potential for severe weather sets the stage for the upcoming work week, which is Virginia's Severe Weather Awareness Week.

Each day information will be available on different severe weather threats, including the annual Tornado Drill Tuesday at 9:45 a.m. Schools, businesses, and households can sign up for this drill and participate. The emphasis for understanding severe weather and having a safety plan in place ahead of time is important. As the saying goes, "Hope is not a plan".

Temperatures will remain well above average the first part of the week, dropping back a bit by Friday. A return to more typical March weather will hold off until St. Patrick's Day.