Stickiness and shower chances will rule the weekend

Clockwise circulation around strong high pressure over the western states will keep upper level winds coming out of the northwest across Virginia. During summer months this "northwest flow" regime gives rise to multiple storm clusters, which form over the upper Midwest and track southeastward. The exact track of those clusters determines who will or won't see showers and storms.

Enough rain from this weather pattern has fallen across Virginia over the past couple of weeks to provide some relief from the very dry conditions. This week's area Drought Monitor shows improvement, with the red shading of "Extreme Drought" having been removed from Mecklenburg County:

More rain is needed to continue the improvement, but the current forecast doesn't show a lot locally. Showers and storms are possible later today - Friday - into the evening, but liquid totals will be sparse and scattered. What will be the case is a hot and sticky day to end the work week, with afternoon highs nearing the mid-90s and a heat index likely to exceed 100º.

Saturday could be the dampest day of the weekend as a weakening stationary front wobbles around southern Virginia. More clouds than sunshine will prevail tomorrow, with temperatures topping out at or just below the 90º mark. Sunday looks to begin cloudy and damp before skies begin to clear as that boundary edges off the East Coast. Local thermometers will top out in the low 90s on Sunday, with heat indices again likely to top the century mark.

All in all it looks like a typical August weekend!