Thursday Forecast: A warm morning with temps in the 60s featuring increasing clouds as a cold front approaches from the west. Before it arrives, winds are steady 10-15mph with gusts of 20mph at times from the southwest. By lunchtime, scattered showers roam the region from west to east.

By the evening hours, showers fade with a few breaks in the clouds for sunset. Temps tumble through the day from the 60s in the morning to the 40s for lows.

Thursday Brushfire Forecast: Our cold front will change wind direction and intensity today. Morning winds 10-20mph from the southwest will push smoke towards the northeast. Those will a sensitivity to smoke (COPD/Asthma patients, the young and elderly) will want to monitor changing conditions closely.

As our front crosses, winds become more westerly 10-15mph pushing smoke more easterly.

As winds change again this evening out of the northwest 5-10mph, smoke will begin to filter towards the southeast. With little rain today, larger fires won’t be affected much and will continue to burn through the overnight adding to the smoke layer.

Friday morning showers, some steady at times, are a safe bet. This will go a long way in helping curb growing wildfires and hopefully give firefighters a leg up. About an inch of rain can be expected through Friday afternoon. This won’t be a big rain event, more a light steady one. It won’t put larger fires out, but will help firefighters contain them, even start turning the battle in their favor. As Friday evening rolls around, showers will fade and northwest winds increase a bit. Temps tumble into the 30s for lows with wind chills in the 20s.

HIGH ELEVATION FORECAST: For those above 4,000ft. through Pocahontas County (Snowshoe) snowflakes will fly most of Friday as colder air settles in on the western mountain sides. Grassy accumulation at times is possible for the highest of elevations but warm grounds will prevent much from sticking around long through the day.

Saturday northwest winds early in the day and colder air from the night before will give us a winter feel. Temps in the 30s with wind chills in the 20s will be a stark contrast to the warm week we had. Clearing skies and sunshine try to help warm us up, but it’ll take most of the day to push close to the 50 degree mark however light winds will make us feel like we’re in the 40s.

Sunday is a frosty morning with temps below freezing. With a light breeze, it’ll feel cooler yet. Once again, we’ll see sunshine help warm us closer to the 50 degree mark but light winds keep the wind chill values hovering in the low to mid 40s.

Monday morning is chilly in the 20s and 30s northward, but towards the south temps are closer to the mid 30s as clouds try to roll in. A southern pocket of moisture brings rain to North Carolina but clouds billow out as far north as Mercer County. For our region, we remain dry with sunshine returning for all by the afternoon as high pressure builds in. Highs for the day reach the ‘toasty’ mid 50s.

Tuesday boasts another frosty morning with temps in the 20s and 30s with a slow warm up for the afternoon. Highs push into the low to mid 50s with mostly sunny skies. A few high level clouds early on but building high pressure will have skies clear by the late evening.

Wednesday is a cold start but sunshine and westerly winds ensure we see an average November day with highs in the mid and upper 50s. Getting back into the cold morning, warm afternoons pattern, temps will fall sharply after sunset with lows Wednesday night back into the 30s.

In your extended forecast, a pattern change is looking more likely which would bring an end of the dry stretch. “Denver lows” become more promising late next week and points further (into the Thanksgiving holiday week) which typically bring moderate rain and a surge of warmer air to our region followed by colder air behind them. In other words, a soggy/dry pattern with a rollercoaster ride of temperatures. We’ll keep you posted.

THURSDAY
Dry start, clouds build, Sct. showers PM. Highs in the upper 60s.
FRIDAY
Steady showers, clearing PM. cooler. Highs in the 40s.
SATURDAY
Clearing but chilly. Highs in the low 50s.
SUNDAY
Chilly sunshine. Highs in the low 50s.
MONDAY
Sunshine with slow warm up. Highs in the mid 50s.
TUESDAY
Cold sunshine again, highs in the low to mid 50s.
WEDNESDAY
Frost start, mild PM. Highs in the mid to upper 50s.
THURSDAY
Dry stretch continues. Highs in the 50s.
FRIDAY
Sun & Clouds. Cooler. Rain late. Highs in the 50s.
SATURDAY
Showers, some heavy at times. Highs in the 50s.
SUNDAY
Morning mix (snow/rain), PM clearing. Highs in the 40s.