Virginia's fall weather will likely be warmer than usual
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Virginia's record-threatening year for warmer-than-average temperatures won't end anytime soon.
Why it matters: Despite what SpongeBob Squarepants once said, the best time to wear a striped sweater is not all the time.
Driving the news: September through November will likely bring above-average temperatures to most of the U.S., according to the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center.
- And that unfortunately includes Virginia, which faces a 40-60% chance of having temps above what's usually normal in the fall.
Flashback: Richmond has repeatedly encountered extreme heat this summer. That's been felt more acutely in the city's heat islands, which face up to a 16°F difference from the city's more shaded, affluent areas at peak heat.
- The high summer temperatures, combined with little rain, put nearly the entire state — including the Richmond area — under a drought watch in June.
The latest: Virginia always has its fake fall days, which we gloriously felt in recent weeks. But we're back to warmer weather this week and into the weekend, according to Virginia's NWS Wakefield office.
- It might feel like 105°F on Thursday, per an NWS briefing.
- Forecasts indicate Richmonders won't feel temperatures below 91°F until Monday.
Yes, but: Temperatures might dip into the upper 70s next week and send all of Virginia back to near-to-below-normal temperatures, according to the NWS.
- We could also get hit with a cold front soon, which will bring along better chances of rain.
The bottom line: The beads of sweat on your forehead right now might — hopefully — be short-lived. So keep "Gilmore Girls" and the light fall sweaters close.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say Virginia faces a 40%-60% chance of above-normal fall temperatures (not that they will be 40%-60% above normal).