Smoke from wildfires is causing the air quality in areas along the Blue Ridge to be hazardous. In our area, Amherst, Bedford, and Rockbridge Counties and the cities of Amherst, Bedford, Buena Vista, and Lexington are under a Code Red air quality alert. Fine particulates in wildfire smoke make conditions unhealthy for those unusually sensitive to air pollution.

Smoke from the Matts Creek fire will be moving with the wind and extending out north into the Highlands. As the wind abates, the smoke will plume closer to the fire.

Thursday afternoon will wrap up with highs in the 60s to around 70, about 10 degrees above normal. Temperatures will fall into the 50s during the dinner hour.

Friday will see a mild morning and an afternoon with increasingly cloudy skies and temperatures, while not as warm as Thursday’s, still warmer than normal.

Showers are in the forecast for Friday afternoon and evening but not much is expected. Heavier rainfall is possible Monday night and Tuesday and the long-range outlook looks promising for much-needed precipitation.

Have a great night!