Current Conditions : 40F / 4C, Partly Cloudy - 6:54 AM EDT Oct. 17

Wednesday as of Oct. 17 5:00 AM EDT

Wednesday Night as of Oct. 17 5:00 AM EDT

Thursday as of Oct. 17 5:00 AM EDT

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A Taste Of Summer In The Middle Of October

We enjoyed a pleasant Tuesday with temperatures warming into the 60s amidst plenty of sunshine. That's about normal for this time of year. Today, though, promises to be much warmer in spite of another chilly morning. We're waking up in the 30s and 40s again with some scattered clouds as a warm front passes off to our north and east. Behind that front we'll see a wind shift to the south today, which will draw back in that airmass we enjoyed this past weekend. As a result, the combination of plenty of sunshine and southerly breezes will help push temperatures almost 40 degrees higher by this afternoon, with a high reaching 77 in Charleston and Huntington. That's about what we reached back on Sunday so expect a similar feel.

Clouds will begin to increase tonight ahead of an approaching cold front. Rain, though, will hold off until dawn. With the clouds rolling in temperatures won't get nearly as chilly as recent mornings, falling to around 50 degrees.

Showers will break out at dawn from west to east as that front moves in. Our recent computer model information suggests this rain will struggle against some dry air initially overhead, so amounts look lighter than previously. We should pick up around a tenth to quarter inch...not a whole lot. Nevertheless, it's enough to make the roads slick and enough for an umbrella for folks venturing out Thursday morning. Showers will taper in the afternoon with temperatures topping out around 68 degrees...still pretty mild but not as warm as today. A stout southwest breeze and the damp air will make it feel cooler.

While that front will move out by Friday a very large area of low pressure will move across the Midwest for the end of the week. That should spread more clouds in here Friday and keep the winds blowing fairly strong. I don't think there will be much, if any rain. The best chance for a shower will be in Ohio. Temperatures will top out around 68 degrees.

Fortunately that low will depart on Saturday, allowing for more sunshine and less wind just in time for Bridge Day. It will be a seasonably cool day but that's to be expected this time of year. Temperatures will be in the 40s for Bridge Day morning...then reach about 58 in the afternoon at the New River Gorge and about 62 in Charleston and Huntington. All in all pretty good!

Sunday appears even better, with another warmup commencing as winds turn into the southwest. It looks dry and sunny with temperatures reaching 70...but even that looks cool compared to the first half of next week. A ridge of high pressure will build over the East Coast while a strong storm develops out West. This should ensure at least a couple of days of very warm, dry weather around here. Temperatures will reach around 77 Monday and could top 80 by Tuesday and Wednesday. Wow...I guess Summer doesn't want to give up the ghost just yet!