Forecast Last Updated at Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 7:01AM

Icy; Warming Late

Freezing rain/drizzle lingers this morning until around noon. By noon, temperatures slowly begin to warm and we'll see bouts of intermittent rain/drizzle into the late afternoon. Rain becomes more widely scattered this evening with the approach of the incoming cold front through KY. Continued ice accumulation is expected through lunchtime with melting thereafter as temperatures rise.

For ice and snow impacts, check out our Forecast Accumulation Map.
Thursday will be quite mild with another bout of rain to contend with. In fact, much of the upcoming forecast period is on the mild side with rain expected each day until Monday. Sunshine finally returns to start our next workweek.

Wednesday Hi: 44 Lo: 42 Cloudy; Freezing rain changing to rain by afternoon; SE wind 5-15 mph but gusty along ridge tops

Thursday Hi: 58 Lo: 40 Cloudy with light AM rain possible; Milder; South then NW wind, 5-10 mph

Friday Hi: 48 Lo: 39 Cloudy with rain possible; East wind 5-10 mph

Saturday Hi: 51 Lo: 39 Cloudy with rain; Rain could be moderate at times

Sunday Hi: 58 Lo: 32 Cloudy with AM rain possible; Mild, Diminishing clouds late

Further Out

Monday - Partly cloudy; Mild; Most importantly... dry.; High in the lower 50s; Low in the lower 30s
Tuesday - Partly cloudy; Dry; High near 50 degrees; Low in the lower 30s

Forecast Discussion

The cold wedge of high pressure hangs in place from the Northeast through the Mid-Atlantic alongside the Appalachians and digs into southwestern Virginia. This keeps enough cool air at the surface to support continued freezing rain as moisture overruns the region from the south. The wedge will not subside until around noon, which is when temperatures slowly begin to rise and the icing threat subsides. Rain lingers through the late afternoon and overnight hours as temperatures continue to warm.

Thursday will be rather mild with lingering clouds and rain showers. A cold front slides in from KY early and settles over eastern NC by the PM hours. This will give us a break in the rain Thursday afternoon and evening, however, clouds will stick around. High pressure builds across the Ohio Valley Thursday night into Friday as another surge of moisture pushes north along the Gulf Coast in the form of yet another developing warm front. Expect continued cloud cover through Friday with rain moving in early Friday morning. Temperatures will be lower than Thursday but still on the mild side.

Scattered rain showers develop Saturday with the warm front situated to our south. Rain could be moderate at times through the day. Low pressure associated with this front quickly moves from the Southern Plains, through the Midwest, into the Great Lakes by Saturday night. The weak cold front associated with this system moves through the TN Valley into our neck of the woods Sunday morning with widely scattered rain showers and some gusty winds. The front quickly moves east as has very little impact on our temperatures, however, it will clear out the rain and clouds by Sunday afternoon. Drying ensues behind the front. While we are openly forecasting sunshine Monday, you cannot rule out some developing isolated sunshine in the mix for the late afternoon Sunday.

High pressure builds across the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and into the Mid-Atlantic Monday through Tuesday. Temperatures will stay on the mild side with more sunshine.

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