Wet and mild weather continues, but changes are not far away

There are plenty of clouds around the region this afternoon, but temperatures are still well above the normal for the 23rd of December. Highs wound up in the lower to middle 50s almost everywhere. By comparison, the average high for today in Beckley is 42 degrees. That’s where we’re expecting the low tonight to wind up! There could be some patchy fog tonight as temperatures and dewpoints should be able to get together. This will cause some issues for the morning commute.

Tomorrow will be the best day of the next seven, weather-wise. After some early clouds and fog, skies should clear, and temperatures will continue to be mild. Highs will wind up in the lower to middle 50s.

But the break is only temporary as another upper-level disturbance (one of several that we’ll be tracking over the next few days) comes into the area and gives us more chances for rain beginning tomorrow night. By early Christmas morning, there could even be a couple of rumbles of thunder. It’s not great chances for thunder, but it’s pretty unusual for Christmas Day, so any chance for thunder at all is quite remarkable! For reference, Charleston hasn’t heard thunder on Christmas Day since 2015.

These disturbances that are rolling through are not cold fronts, so they don’t have cold air behind them. That’s why each day is still well above the normal despite the chances for rain. Friday, we’ll see rain, but the high will be near 60 degrees. Saturday, we’ll see another chance for rain, but the high will be in the lower 60s.

The next cold front to come through on Sunday will usher in a significant change to our weather.

Highs will drop by more than 30 degrees between Sunday and Monday, and the precipitation that has been falling in the wet form will change over to the wintry form. The cooler weather associated with this pattern change looks like it will last for a bit, according to the latest outlook from the Climate Prediction Center.