ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — The dry weather pattern continues across Southwest and Central Virginia as high pressure controls the region. The fire threat will remain high until more moisture returns to the area.

Expect more clouds than sunshine on Wednesday. Due to the additional cloud cover, it won’t be as warm for the afternoon with temperatures reaching the upper 50s and lower 60s. Wildfire smoke from the Matts Creek Fire in Bedford County may impact areas north of U.S. 460

As a reminder, multiple counties have burn bans or burn restrictions in place due to the lack of rainfall. Much of Southwest and Central Virginia is under Moderate Drought with Extreme Drought north of I-64. Fires could easily ignite and rapidly spread in dry and breezy conditions.

More sunshine and increasing southerly flow will result in warmer temperatures for Thursday. Morning lows will generally be in the lower 30s while afternoon highs will warm up into the middle and upper 60s. Increasing cloudiness will occur during the evening hours.

Friday will start dry with mostly cloudy skies overhead, but a passing cold front will bring rain showers to the region Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. However, a low-pressure system to the south may steal some of our moisture, limiting rain coverage. This does not look to be a drought buster, but we’ll take whatever rainfall we can get. Models suggest we could see less than half an inch of rainfall in some locations.

Once the showers exit the region Saturday morning, the weekend will turn drier and slightly cooler. Skies will gradually clear on Saturday with winds picking up at times. High temperatures will be in the 50s. Expect mostly sunny skies on Sunday with morning lows in the 30s and afternoon highs in the 50s.