This evening, the cold front that pushed through earlier today is now well to our south, ushering in a remarkably crisp and refreshing airmass. If you stepped outside this afternoon, you likely noticed a dramatic difference: dewpoints have plummeted into the 50s and 60s, a welcome relief from the sticky 70s we were sweating through at this time yesterday. Afternoon temperatures topped out in the comfortable low to mid-80s, setting the stage for a beautiful night ahead. Expect a dry, pleasant evening with overnight lows dropping into the 50s inland, while the immediate coast stays slightly milder in the 60s.

Looking ahead to Friday, high pressure settling from the Great Lakes into the Mid-Atlantic will ensure another mild, picture-perfect day. Inland areas can look forward to highs right around 80°F, while coastal communities will stay cooler in the mid to upper 70s under mostly clear skies.

The Weekend & Beyond: More Fronts, But Little Rain

As we transition into the weekend and the turn of the calendar page from May into June, the weather pattern remains highly favorable for outdoor plans.

By Saturday, a weather trough digging out of Canada will push a secondary cold front south across the Mid-Atlantic. However, a strong northern jet stream is going to keep any significant moisture suppressed well to our south. Because of this, we are expecting a “dry” frontal passage. Aside from a very slim 15% chance of a stray shower across far southern Bertie County in North Carolina on Saturday, dry conditions will prevail everywhere else through the weekend.

Another potent cold front is scheduled to dive out of Eastern Canada early next week, passing through on Monday. While standard climate models try to paint a 20–30% chance of rain with this system, the atmosphere is simply going to be too starved for moisture to produce much of anything.

We are favoring a dry forecast straight through Tuesday and Wednesday as an “omega block” pattern sets up over Central Canada, keeping us in a protected, dry flow.

Temperature Check: Slightly Below Normal

Overall, temperatures from Saturday through next Wednesday will average slightly below normal for this time of year—which, for late May and early June, is a treat!

• Highs: Mid 70s to around 80°F inland, with cooler temperatures along the immediate coast.

  

• Lows: Chilly 50s for most, with some upper 40s possible over the Piedmont on Sunday morning. Grab a light jacket if you’re out early!

  

Aviation & Marine Outlook

For the Pilots (Aviation): Excellent flying weather is on tap. VFR conditions will prevail through Friday. Expect a few fair-weather cumulus clouds this afternoon to dissipate tonight, giving way to clear skies. North-to-northwest winds gusting up to 20 knots this afternoon will lighten and shift north-to-northeast overnight. The high probability of VFR conditions continues through the weekend and into early next week, though Saturday’s dry front will briefly bring gusty northerly winds back into the forecast.

For the Boaters (Marine): If you are planning to hit the water, take note of a couple of brief wind surges:

• Tonight: A Small Craft Advisory (SCA) is in effect for the Chesapeake Bay from 10:00 PM tonight until 7:00 AM Friday. A brief northerly surge will increase bay winds to 15–20 knots, with waves building to 2–3 feet.

• Friday: High pressure builds in during the day, bringing light, variable winds before winds shift southerly Friday night ahead of the next front.

• The Weekend: Saturday’s cold front will be a bit stronger, bringing an elevated period of N/NE winds and likely requiring another round of Small Craft Advisories. Waves on the Chesapeake Bay will build to 3–4 feet on Saturday, with ocean seas building to 3–4 feet (and potentially up to 5 feet) through Sunday morning before winds clock around to the east and subside below 15 knots.

Enjoy the beautiful, comfortable weather to close out the week! Be sure to check out rvaweather.net for the latest, and remember to stay safe out there!