Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Thunder possible. Winds S to SW at 5-15 mph, with higher gusts, on mountain ridges & plateaus below 2700 feet. Winds S-SW 10-20 mph, with higher gusts, on mountain ridges above 2700 ft. Mild with temperatures varying from the mid-upper 40s to the middle 50s ( except chilly at highest elevations with dense fog and wind chills in the upper 30s to lower 40s ).
Tuesday Afternoon
Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers. Winds shifting WNW-NW at 5-15 mph, with higher gusts. Temperatures varying from 50s in upper elevations to the mid-upper 60s.
Tuesday Night Into Wednesday Morning
Mostly cloudy. Low clouds ( dense fog ) at the highest elevations. A chance of showers. Winds N-NE at 5-10 mph. Temperatures in the 40s to around 50 degrees. Wind chills in the 30s at highest elevations.
Wednesday Afternoon
Partly cloudy. Light NNE-NE winds. Temperatures varying from the 50s to low-mid 60s ( around 50 degrees at highest elevations in the High Knob Massif ).
Wednesday Night Into Thursday Morning
Partly to mostly clear. Winds becoming SE-S at 5-15 mph, with higher gusts, on mid-upper elevation mountain ridges. Large evening temperature spread developing between cool valleys and milder ridges. Temperatures dropping into the 30s in colder valleys versus near steady or rising temps in the 40s to low 50s on exposed mid-upper elevation ridges.
Strong SSE-SSW winds are expected to develop during Thursday afternoon into Thursday night in advance of the next round of showers and thunderstorms.
Weather Discussion ( Stormy Pattern )
A stormy spring pattern will continue at times through this week into next week as the seasonal transition is underway.
Coltsfoot ( Tussilago farfara ) In Bloom On March 27, 2017
Although April 15 to May 15 is typically the most explosive period within the mountains for spring rebirth, numerous species of flora and fauna are beginning to become more visible ( especially at lower-middle elevations ).
MIN temperatures dipped to 0 degrees on March 16, and into the 10s on March 23, in high valleys of the High Knob Massif where spring is typically slow to emerge.
Big Cherry Wetland Valley of High Knob Massif – March 22, 2017
Somewhat cooler air will be felt on northerly winds Tuesday into Wednesday before the next upward surge of wind and temperatures occur Thursday in advance of the next round of showers and thunderstorms to close out the week.
Following a break, another significant system is likely next week with more showers-storms. A shot of colder air will be possible by the middle-end of next week ( typical for April ).
NWS Precipitation Analysis-Estimate Past 21 DAYS
Although the above NWS Precpitation Analysis-Estimate is too low for the High Knob Massif area, where up to 6.00″+ has fallen in March, the gradient is generally correct with portions of Dickenson County being smoky over the past weekend due to wild fires ( March precipitation totals of 3.00″ or less in places ). So a wetter pattern is generally good news for the mountain area as a whole.
