Current weather · Sep 29, 2:37 PM EDT

37.8430, -75.5710

72°

Mostly CloudyFeels like 72° · Humidity 68%NWS forecast for this hour; no recent station reportForecast by NWS Wakefield, VA · grid 109,99
High
74°
Low
60°
Rain today
1%
Sunrise
6:56 AM
Sunset
6:48 PM

Hour by hour

NWS forecast grid

Scroll sideways for more hours. Pick an hour for every number.

Every hour as a table48 hours
TimeWeatherTemperatureFeels likeDew pointHumidityChanceAmountSnowDirWindGustSky coverThunderPressureVisibilityCeiling
Tue 2 PM72°72°61°68%0%W7 mph10 mph74%0.01 inHg7 mi4,000 ft
Tue 3 PM73°73°61°66%0%W7 mph10 mph71%0.01 inHg7 mi
Tue 4 PM73°73°60°64%1%W6 mph9 mph69%0.01 inHg7 mi
Tue 5 PM72°72°60°66%0%W6 mph9 mph59%0.01 inHg7 mi
Tue 6 PM71°71°60°68%0%W5 mph7 mph50%0.01 inHg7 mi
Tue 7 PM69°70°61°76%0%WSW3 mph6 mph47%0.01 inHg7 mi
Tue 8 PM67°68°61°81%0%SW2 mph3 mph44%0.01 inHg7 mi
Tue 9 PM66°67°61°84%0%SW2 mph3 mph41%0.01 inHg7 mi
Tue 10 PM66°67°61°84%1%SW2 mph5 mph37%0.01 inHg7 mi
Tue 11 PM65°66°61°87%1%SW2 mph5 mph40%0.01 inHg7 mi
Wed 12 AM64°65°61°90%1%SW2 mph3 mph42%0.01 inHg7 mi
Wed 1 AM64°65°61°90%1%WSW2 mph3 mph48%0.01 inHg7 mi
Wed 2 AM63°64°61°93%1%WSW2 mph3 mph53%0.01 inHg7 mi
Wed 3 AM63°64°61°93%1%WSW2 mph3 mph58%0.01 inHg7 mi
Wed 4 AM63°64°61°93%0%W2 mph3 mph64%0.01 inHg7 mi
Wed 5 AM62°63°61°97%0%W2 mph3 mph63%0.01 inHg5 mi
Wed 6 AMPatchy fog62°63°61°97%0%W2 mph3 mph62%0.01 inHg5 mi
Wed 7 AM62°64°61°97%1%WNW1 mph2 mph56%0.01 inHg5 mi
Wed 8 AM64°66°62°93%0%WNW2 mph3 mph50%0.01 inHg7 mi
Wed 9 AM67°69°63°87%0%W1 mph2 mph44%0.01 inHg7 mi
Wed 10 AM70°72°64°81%0%W2 mph2 mph37%0.01 inHg7 mi
Wed 11 AM72°74°65°79%0%W2 mph3 mph36%0.01 inHg7 mi
Wed 12 PM73°75°64°73%0%W3 mph6 mph36%0.01 inHg7 mi
Wed 1 PM74°75°64°71%0%WSW5 mph7 mph35%0.01 inHg7 mi
Wed 2 PM74°75°64°71%0%SSW6 mph8 mph44%0.01 inHg7 mi
Wed 3 PM74°75°64°71%0%S7 mph10 mph40%0.01 inHg—
Wed 4 PM74°75°64°71%0%S7 mph10 mph36%0.01 inHg—
Wed 5 PM72°72°64°76%0%S8 mph12 mph28%0.01 inHg—
Wed 6 PM71°72°64°79%0%S7 mph10 mph21%0.01 inHg—
Wed 7 PM69°70°64°84%0%S7 mph10 mph27%0.01 inHg—
Wed 8 PM68°69°64°87%0%S7 mph10 mph33%0.01 inHg—
Wed 9 PM67°68°65°93%0%S6 mph9 mph47%0.01 inHg—
Wed 10 PM67°68°65°93%0%S6 mph9 mph47%0.01 inHg—
Wed 11 PM66°67°64°93%0%S6 mph9 mph55%0.01 inHg—
Thu 12 AM66°67°65°97%0%S6 mph9 mph62%0.01 inHg—
Thu 1 AM66°67°64°93%0%S6 mph9 mph73%0.01 inHg—
Thu 2 AM65°66°64°97%0%S6 mph9 mph59%0.01 inHg—
Thu 3 AM65°66°64°97%0%S6 mph9 mph55%0.01 inHg—
Thu 4 AM65°66°64°97%0%SSW6 mph9 mph60%0.01 inHg—
Thu 5 AM65°66°64°97%0%SSW6 mph9 mph76%0.01 inHg—
Thu 6 AM66°67°64°93%0%SSW6 mph9 mph71%0.01 inHg—
Thu 7 AM66°67°64°93%0%SSW6 mph9 mph68%0.01 inHg—
Thu 8 AM68°69°66°93%0%SSW6 mph9 mph55%0.01 inHg—
Thu 9 AM70°71°66°87%0%SSW7 mph9 mph83%0.01 inHg—
Thu 10 AM72°73°66°81%0%SSW8 mph12 mph65%0.01 inHg—
Thu 11 AM75°76°66°74%0%SSW8 mph13 mph46%0.01 inHg—
Thu 12 PM77°78°66°69%0%SSW8 mph14 mph41%0.01 inHg—
Thu 1 PM78°78°66°67%0%SSW9 mph14 mph37%0.01 inHg—

The next 16 days

NWS grid published Sep 29, 2:23 PM EDT to day 8, the National Blend of Models to day 11, the mean of GFS, ECMWF, ECMWF AI to day 16
  1. TodaySep 2974°60°Partly Sunny1%wind 7 mph
  2. WedSep 3076°65°Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny1%wind 8 mph
  3. ThuOct 180°67°Mostly Sunny0%wind 10 mph
  4. FriOct 282°67°Sunny6%wind 12 mph · gusts 17 mph
  5. SatOct 372°62°Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers24%wind 12 mph
  6. SunOct 468°60°Rain Showers Likely62%wind 12 mph
  7. MonOct 565°53°Chance Rain Showers54%wind 12 mph
  8. TueOct 662°52°4%wind 13 mph · gusts 18 mph
  9. WedOct 767°58°National Blend18%0.03 inwind 12 mph
  10. ThuOct 868°58°National Blend21%0.42 inwind 10 mph
  11. FriOct 970°57°National Blend14%0.12 inwind 12 mph
  12. SatOct 10~67°59°Model mean
  13. SunOct 11~66°59°Model mean0.23 in
  14. MonOct 12~64°58°Model mean
  15. TueOct 13~62°55°Model mean
  16. WedOct 14~63°60°Model mean0.98 in

Right now

NWS grid for this hour · UV from the EPA · air quality from AirNow
  • Feels like72°
  • WindW 7 mphgusts 10 mph
  • Radar over this pointno reading
  • Humidity68%
  • Dew point61°
  • Pressure0.01 inHg
  • UV index—
  • Air quality—
  • Visibility7 mi
  • Sunrise and sunsetSunrise · Sunset
  • Moonrise8:16 PMMoonset 10:16 AM
  • Moon phaseWaning gibbous90% lit

The National Blend of Models

NOAA NBM v5.0 · run of Sep 29, 8:00 AM EDT

NOAA’s weighted blend of every model it runs, to eleven days, with the chances the grid above does not carry. Where the local office’s grid reaches, its figure sits beneath the blend’s; where it does not, the blend stands alone.

  1. TodaySep 2975°62°NWS grid 74° / 60°rain 1%wind 7 mph
  2. WedSep 3077°65°NWS grid 76° / 65°rain 1%wind 7 mph
  3. ThuOct 181°67°NWS grid 80° / 67°rain 0%wind 10 mph · gusts 16 mph
  4. FriOct 282°67°NWS grid 82° / 67°rain 5%wind 10 mph · gusts 16 mph
  5. SatOct 376°64°NWS grid 72° / 62°rain 44%thunder 11%0.02 inwind 12 mph
  6. SunOct 472°60°NWS grid 68° / 60°rain 54%thunder 15%0.59 inwind 13 mph
  7. MonOct 568°55°NWS grid 65° / 53°rain 38%0.37 inwind 13 mph
  8. TueOct 665°55°NWS grid 62° / 52°rain 8%wind 14 mph
  9. WedOct 767°58°Beyond the NWS gridrain 18%0.03 inwind 12 mph
  10. ThuOct 868°58°Beyond the NWS gridrain 21%0.42 inwind 10 mph
  11. FriOct 970°57°Beyond the NWS gridrain 14%0.12 inwind 12 mph
50°68°86°WedThuFriSatSunMonTue

BlendNWS gridChance of rain, hourly

The models, side by side

HRRR Sep 29, 8:00 AM EDT · GFS Sep 29, 8:00 AM EDT · GEFS Sep 29, 8:00 AM EDT · ECMWF Sep 28, 8:00 PM EDT · ECMWF AI Sep 29, 8:00 AM EDT

Each line is one model’s own forecast at its own grid cell: three kilometers for HRRR, a quarter of a degree for the global models, which can sit a few hundred meters above or below the town. Where they agree the forecast is settled; where they part is where it is not.

50°68°86°WedThuFriSatSunMonTue

DayNWS gridHRRRGFSGEFSECMWFECMWF AI
Today Sep 2974° 60°74° 61°71° 66°71° 66°72° 65°~71° 67°
Wed Sep 3076° 65°78° 59°69° 65°71° 65°70° 65°0.01 in~71° 67°
Thu Oct 180° 67°64° 62°72° 67°72° 68°73° 69°~74° 69°
Fri Oct 282° 67°—73° 67°74° 69°76° 70°~76° 69°
Sat Oct 372° 62°—69° 64°70° 64°0.04 in72° 66°0.03 in~73° 67°0.21 in
Sun Oct 468° 60°—66° 64°0.54 in66° 64°0.26 in67° 65°1.88 in~67° 66°0.57 in
Mon Oct 565° 53°—68° 57°66° 63°0.28 in~71° 67°0.24 in~70° 65°
Tue Oct 662° 52°—58° 50°60° 56°0.01 in~60° 53°~61° 56°
Wed Oct 7——63° 54°61° 56°~61° 54°~63° 56°
Thu Oct 8——66° 63°65° 61°0.05 in~66° 58°~68° 61°
Fri Oct 9——~64° 63°~62° 61°0.06 in~68° 62°~71° 65°
Sat Oct 10——~62° 52°—~69° 60°~70° 66°
Sun Oct 11——~65° 57°—~62° 51°0.01 in~71° 69°0.68 in
Mon Oct 12——~57° 49°—~68° 64°0.01 in~67° 60°
Tue Oct 13——~57° 51°—~70° 60°~59° 53°
Wed Oct 14——~63° 60°0.98 in——~56° 56°

A ~ marks a high or low read from six-hourly steps, which miss the true extreme by a degree or two.

ECMWF ensemble meteogram

ECMWF ensemble meteogram for this place: box plots of cloud cover, precipitation, wind speed and temperature from the 51 ensemble members for ten days.
Rendered by ECMWF from its 51-member ensemble, in metric units: each box spans the middle half of the members, the whiskers the rest, the line the control run. A forecast, not an observation. © ECMWF, CC BY 4.0.

The next 90 days

NOAA GHCN normals and records at Wallops Island Stn (WAL) · Climate Prediction Center outlooks

No forecast has skill day by day past about two weeks, and this page does not print one. Where the models stop, the calendar takes over: the 1991 to 2020 normal for each date, the record high and low ever set on it, and where the Climate Prediction Center leans warm, cool, wet or dry over the coming weeks, the month and the season. A site that shows a high for a date three months out is showing you this normal with a wobble.

The forecast reaches Wed Oct 14, from the NWS grid, then the National Blend, then the mean of the global models. Beyond it the lines are the calendar.

Climate Prediction Center (CPC) temperature lean33%warmer 40% · Oct 202633% chance above normal · Oct to Dec0°20°40°60°80°TodayOct 1Nov 1Dec 1

Forecast high and lowNormal high and lowRecord high and lowCPC leans warmer than normalCPC leans cooler than normalCPC near normal or equal chances

Week ofNormalWarmest on recordColdest on recordTemperature leanPrecipitation lean
Sep 2974° / 56°93° (2019)35° (1974)40% chance above normal · Oct 2026equal chances · Oct 2026
Oct 673° / 56°91° (2007)33° (2001)33% chance below normal · days 8 to 14near normal most likely · days 8 to 14
Oct 1369° / 51°86° (1985)34° (1988)40% chance above normal · Oct 2026equal chances · Oct 2026
Oct 2066° / 47°81° (1984)29° (1974)40% chance above normal · Oct 2026equal chances · Oct 2026
Oct 2764° / 44°83° (2023)30° (1976)40% chance above normal · Oct 2026equal chances · Oct 2026
Nov 362° / 45°81° (2024)25° (1976)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec
Nov 1058° / 39°82° (1993)21° (1967)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec
Nov 1758° / 40°77° (1985)19° (2014)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec
Nov 2457° / 37°76° (1973)20° (1974)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec
Dec 154° / 35°77° (1998)17° (1966)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec
Dec 851° / 35°72° (1971)14° (1988)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec
Dec 1549° / 32°78° (1971)4° (1989)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec
Dec 2249° / 31°77° (2015)7° (1989)33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec33% chance above normal · Oct to Dec

Health and activities

Rules of thumb over the next 24 hours of forecast, the warnings in force, the station’s report, air quality and pollen

None of these is a measurement. Each is a rating of the forecast ahead, and of what is happening at the point right now, against what the activity or the ailment is known to mind, and each names the figure that decided it. An ailment or a pest is rated as a risk, low to extreme; an activity, a chore or a journey as a condition, poor to ideal.

Each rating says which span it is for: the rest of today’s daylight, tonight, or the next 24 hours.

Health

  • Arthritisnext 24 hModeratehumid
  • Sinus pressurenext 24 hLowsteady conditions
  • Common coldtodayLowmild
  • FlutodayLowmild
  • Migrainenext 24 hLowsteady conditions
  • Asthmanext 24 hLowclean air
  • Heat stresstodayLowmild
  • SunburntodayLowweak sun
  • Frostbitenext 24 hLowmild
  • SleepingtonightIdealcool, quiet night

Outdoors

  • RunningtodayVery goodhot
  • HikingtodayIdealfine conditions
  • BikingtodayIdealfine conditions
  • GolftodayIdealfine conditions
  • FishingtodayIdealfine conditions
  • Boating and paddlingtodayIdealfine conditions
  • Beach and pooltodayVery goodfine conditions
  • CampingtonightIdealfine conditions
  • StargazingtonightPoorpartly cloudy

Travel

  • Air travelnext 24 hIdealclear skies
  • Drivingnext 24 hIdealclear roads

Home and garden

  • Lawn mowingtodayIdealfine conditions
  • GardeningtodayIdealfine conditions
  • Outdoor entertainingtodayIdealfine conditions
  • Drying laundry outsidetodayVery goodlittle sun
  • Painting and outdoor projectstodayIdealfine conditions
  • FrosttonightLowmild

Pests

  • MosquitoestodayHighwarm
  • TickstodayVery highwarm
  • Indoor pestsnext 24 hLowmild
  • Outdoor peststodayHighwarm

Stargazing

Worked out from the NWS hourly forecast and the sun and moon

Tonight has no dark, clear hour without a bright moon in this forecast. Rated poor.

Night ofRatingDarkClear hoursClear and moonlessMoon litTransparency (est.)DewStrongest wind
TuesdayPoor8:16 PM to 5:30 AM0 of 10None88%6 h2 mph
WednesdayPoor8:14 PM to 5:31 AM0 of 10None80%9 h7 mph
ThursdayFair8:12 PM to 5:32 AM8 of 10None71%Fair9 mph
FridayPoor8:11 PM to 5:32 AM0 of 10None60%5 h12 mph
SaturdayPoor8:09 PM to 5:33 AM0 of 10None50%10 h8 mph
SundayPoor8:08 PM to 5:34 AM0 of 10None39%10 h8 mph
MondayPoor8:06 PM to 5:35 AM0 of 10None29%12 mph

Dark is the sun 18 degrees below the horizon; where it never gets that low, 12 degrees, marked nautical. Clear is sky cover of 20% or less. A bright moon is one above the horizon with a quarter or more of its disc lit. Transparency in the table is estimated from surface humidity (70% and 85% mark fair and poor) and visibility, since the forecast carries no haze or high cloud moisture. Seeing and transparency by hour, where shown, are Environment and Climate Change Canada’s astronomy forecast (regional model; seeing from cloud, wind shear, turbulence near the ground and the surface temperature trend; transparency from the moisture through the whole air column), under the Open Government Licence - Canada. Dew is the air within 2 °C of its dew point. Excellent is four or more clear moonless hours with good transparency; good is three; fair is one, or two clear hours.

Golden hour and blue hour

Computed from the sun and moon positions
DayBlue hour, morningGolden hour, morningGolden hour, eveningBlue hour, evening
Tue6:30 AM to 6:40 AM6:40 AM to 7:31 AM6:14 PM to 7:04 PM7:04 PM to 7:14 PM
Wed6:31 AM to 6:41 AM6:41 AM to 7:32 AM6:12 PM to 7:03 PM7:03 PM to 7:13 PM
Thu6:32 AM to 6:42 AM6:42 AM to 7:33 AM6:10 PM to 7:01 PM7:01 PM to 7:11 PM
Fri6:33 AM to 6:43 AM6:43 AM to 7:34 AM6:09 PM to 7:00 PM7:00 PM to 7:10 PM
Sat6:34 AM to 6:44 AM6:44 AM to 7:35 AM6:07 PM to 6:58 PM6:58 PM to 7:08 PM
Sun6:34 AM to 6:45 AM6:45 AM to 7:36 AM6:06 PM to 6:57 PM6:57 PM to 7:07 PM
Mon6:35 AM to 6:45 AM6:45 AM to 7:37 AM6:04 PM to 6:55 PM6:55 PM to 7:05 PM
NESWSRSSMRMS
  • SR Sunrise 6:56 AM, 92° E
  • SS Sunset 6:48 PM, 267° W
  • MR Moonrise 8:16 PM, 61° ENE
  • MS Moonset 10:16 AM, 297° WNW
  • Waning gibbous, 90% lit

Golden hour is the sun between 6 degrees above the horizon and 4 degrees below it; blue hour is the sun between 4 and 6 degrees below. These are the definitions timeanddate.com and PhotoPills use. Directions are degrees clockwise from true north, where the sun’s upper edge and the moon’s center cross a flat horizon; hills and buildings change both. None means the sun does not reach that height on the day; all day means it stays inside the band.

Drone flying

NWS hourly forecast, SWPC Kp, FAA TFRs and 14 CFR Part 107

This hour: good to fly. Next good stretch: Tue 2 PM to 6 PM, 4 hours.

Today: civil twilight for Part 107 6:26 AM to sunrise 6:56 AM, and sunset 6:48 PM to 7:18 PM. Anti-collision lighting is required in those minutes and at night.

Tue6 PM
Wed12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Thu12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM

Good Caution No-fly

HourVerdictWind (mph)400 ft est. (mph)Gust (mph)RainVisibilityCloud allowsTempKpWhy
Tue 2 PMGood79120%7 mi400 ft72°nothing against it
Tue 3 PMGood79120%7 mi73°nothing against it
Tue 4 PMGood67111%7 mi73°nothing against it
Tue 5 PMGood67110%7 mi72°nothing against it
Tue 6 PMCaution5680%7 mi71°civil twilight: lighting required (107.29)
Tue 7 PMCaution314160%7 mi69°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Tue 8 PMCaution29100%7 mi67°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Tue 9 PMCaution29100%7 mi66°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Tue 10 PMCaution29111%7 mi66°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Tue 11 PMCaution29111%7 mi65°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Wed 12 AMCaution29101%7 mi64°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Wed 1 AMCaution29101%7 mi64°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Wed 2 AMCaution2671%7 mi63°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Wed 3 AMCaution2671%7 mi63°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Wed 4 AMCaution2670%7 mi63°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Wed 5 AMCaution2670%5 mi62°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Wed 6 AMCaution2670%5 mi62°night: lighting and night training required (107.29)
Wed 7 AMGood1131%5 mi62°nothing against it
Wed 8 AMGood2340%7 mi64°nothing against it
Wed 9 AMGood1130%7 mi67°nothing against it
Wed 10 AMGood2330%7 mi70°nothing against it
Wed 11 AMGood2340%7 mi72°nothing against it
Wed 12 PMGood3460%7 mi73°nothing against it
Wed 1 PMGood5580%7 mi74°nothing against it

Flight restrictions nearby

Reading the FAA’s temporary flight restrictions.

Flight restrictions on the map. TFRs are not the whole picture: controlled airspace around airports needs LAANC authorization. Check the FAA’s B4UFLY.

Wind at 400 ft is estimated from the 10 m forecast by the power law, with exponents for each Pasquill stability class (Irwin 1979, rural, as in EPA dispersion models; the class from wind, sun height and cloud, after Turner 1970); gusts keep the ground gust’s margin. Caution from three quarters of your limit; the default 24 mph is the wind resistance printed for common sub-250 g drones. 14 CFR 107.51: “The minimum flight visibility, as observed from the location of the control station must be no less than 3 statute miles” and at least “500 feet below the cloud”. 14 CFR 107.29: “No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft system during periods of civil twilight unless the small unmanned aircraft has lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles”; civil twilight is the 30 minutes before sunrise and after sunset, in Alaska the Air Almanac’s. Kp: SWPC’s scales say satellite navigation problems may occur at G3 (Kp 7) and navigation is “degraded for hours” at G4 (Kp 8); Kp 5 is the typical app warning. Typical limits, not rules: rain chance 30% caution and 60% no-fly, thunder 10% and 20%, below 0 °C caution and −10 °C no-fly, over 40 °C caution. Your drone’s manual and the airspace come first.

Spraying and field work

Worked out from the NWS hourly forecast

Hours fit for spraying, and the days dry enough for fieldwork and hay, read from this forecast’s wind, gusts, humidity, temperature and rain.

Spraying windows

  • Tue 2 PM to 8 PM 6 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Wed 12 PM to 7 PM 7 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Thu 10 AM to 4 PM 6 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Thu 7 PM to Fri 1 AM 6 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Fri 9 AM to 11 AM 2 hours, every hour within the rules
  • Mon 8 PM to Tue 3 AM 7 hours, every hour within the rules
Tue6 PM
Wed12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Thu12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM
Fri12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM

Good Marginal No

Field days

DayDaytimeChance of rainRainLowest humidityStrongest windDry days in a rowHay drying
TuesdayDry1%0.00 in64%7 mph5 d
WednesdayDry0%0.00 in71%8 mph4 d
ThursdayDry0%0.00 in62%10 mph3 d
FridayDry0%0.00 in62%12 mph2 d
SaturdayDry21%0.00 in78%12 mph1 d
SundayShowers possible62%0.00 in93%12 mph
MondayDry22%0.00 in72%12 mph2 d
TuesdayDry0%0.00 in60%13 mph1 d

Spraying: sustained wind 3 to 10 mph, the range US extension services and most labels give; gusts no more than 15 mph (this page’s limit); delta T (air minus wet-bulb temperature) 2 to 8 °C preferred and 8 to 10 °C marginal, from GRDC guidance, with the wet bulb by Stull’s formula; no hour at a 30% chance of rain or 0.25 mm forecast during the rain-free time. Follow the product label, which overrides all of this. Field days: dry is no daytime hour at a 30% chance and under 1 mm all day, wet is 6 mm (0.25 in) or more; soil moisture is not in the forecast, so ground still wet from earlier rain is not accounted for. Hay drying marks a dry day with humidity down to 50% and a breeze of 5 mph or more.

Solunar times

Computed from the moon’s position

The best-rated day this week is Tuesday, rated good.

DayRatingMajor periodsMinor periodsMoonSunrise, sunset
Tue Good1:52 AM to 3:52 AM2:19 PM to 4:19 PM9:46 AM to 10:46 AM7:46 PM to 8:46 PM 90%6:56 AM, 6:48 PM
Wed Poor2:48 AM to 4:48 AM3:17 PM to 5:17 PM11:00 AM to 12:00 PM8:30 PM to 9:30 PM 83%6:57 AM, 6:47 PM
Thu Fair3:48 AM to 5:48 AM4:19 PM to 6:19 PM12:12 PM to 1:12 PM9:24 PM to 10:24 PM 74%6:58 AM, 6:45 PM
Fri Fair4:50 AM to 6:50 AM5:22 PM to 7:22 PM1:17 PM to 2:17 PM10:28 PM to 11:28 PM 64%6:59 AM, 6:44 PM
Sat Fair5:53 AM to 7:53 AM6:23 PM to 8:23 PM2:12 PM to 3:12 PM 54%7:00 AM, 6:42 PM
Sun Fair6:53 AM to 8:53 AM7:22 PM to 9:22 PM11:39 PM to 12:39 AM2:58 PM to 3:58 PM 43%7:01 AM, 6:41 PM
Mon Fair7:49 AM to 9:49 AM8:15 PM to 10:15 PM12:52 AM to 1:52 AM3:34 PM to 4:34 PM 33%7:02 AM, 6:39 PM

Periods in bold fall within an hour of sunrise or sunset. The weather’s side is the fishing index

Major periods are two hours centered on the moon’s passage overhead and underfoot; minor periods are one hour centered on moonrise and moonset: the conventional durations of John Alden Knight’s solunar tables (1936). The rating is this site’s: one point to start, two more within a day and a half of a new or full moon (one more within three and a half days), and one more when a period falls within an hour of sunrise or sunset. The theory has mixed support in fisheries research; the times are exact astronomy.

In words

NWS forecast periods, as issued
  1. This Afternoon74° · 1% · W 7 mph

    Partly sunny, with a high near 74. West wind around 7 mph.

  2. Tonight62° · 1% · SW 5 mph

    Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

  3. Wednesday76° · 1% · SW 1–8 mph

    Patchy fog before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 1 to 8 mph.

  4. Wednesday Night65° · S 7 mph

    Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 7 mph.

  5. Thursday80° · S 6–10 mph

    Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. South wind 6 to 10 mph.

  6. Thursday Night67° · S 10 mph

    Mostly clear, with a low around 67.

  7. Friday82° · SW 8–12 mph

    Sunny, with a high near 82.

  8. Friday Night67° · 12% · SW 8–12 mph

    Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.

  9. Saturday72° · 21% · N 8–12 mph

    A slight chance of rain showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 72.

  10. Saturday Night62° · 49% · NE 9 mph

    A chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

  11. Sunday68° · 62% · E 8–12 mph

    Rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

  12. Sunday Night60° · 62% · NE 6–9 mph

    Rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

  13. Monday65° · 42% · N 8–12 mph

    A chance of rain showers before 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

  14. Monday Night53° · 6% · N 12 mph

    Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.

The forecaster’s discussion

NWS Wakefield, VA · issued Sep 29, 6:57 AM EDT

Written by the forecaster on duty for their own colleagues and for anyone who wants to know why the forecast says what it says. It is not edited for the public, so it uses the office’s shorthand; it is also the most honest thing any weather service publishes.

What Has Changed

Updated 12z/Aviation discussion.

Increased temperatures slightly on Thu/Fri

Rain chances increased Sat night/Sunday

KEY Messages

1) A warming trend will bring above average high temperatures by mid to late week, along with dry conditions.

2) An unsettled weather pattern with cooler and wetter conditions appears likely for this weekend into early next week.

Discussion

As of 230 AM EDT Tuesday...

KEY MESSAGE 1...A warming trend will bring above average high temperatures by mid to late week, along with dry conditions.

Latest analysis reveals weakening low pressure (~1010 mb) centered near Cape Cod; the remnants of this past weekend's Nor'easter. While the system still maintains a relatively impressive appearance in early morning IR/WV satellite imagery, it continues to weaken rapidly as it accelerates off the New England coast early this morning. A few showers even developed north of the RIC metro late last night in association with a weak shortwave rotating through the base of the exiting upper level trough. In the wake of this system, gradual clearing is expected late today and especially tonight, as broad 1018+ mb high pressure centered over the OH/TN River Valleys gradually builds east through midweek. Meanwhile, upper ridging will rebuild over the western Atlantic into the SE CONUS. The resultant height rises support a gradual warm-up through the end of the work week. That trend begins today, with pleasant weather expected. Partly to mostly cloudy conditions this morning will give way to clearing this afternoon and evening. High temperatures will reach well into the 70s area- wide, with readings near 80 inland. Clearing could set the stage for some areas of fog and low stratus to develop late tonight. Lows mainly in the 50s inland to low-mid 60s at the coast.

Partly to mostly sunny, with highs to climb well into the 80s away from the immediate coast tomorrow, with unseasonably warm temperatures likely Thursday and Friday. A few locations could flirt with the lower 90s on these days, with the best chances Friday as compressional heating maximizes ahead of an approaching cold front.

KEY MESSAGE 2...An unsettled weather pattern with cooler and wetter conditions appears likely for this weekend into early next week.

An increasingly unsettled pattern looks to take shape for the weekend into early next week. A deep closed low currently over the Desert Southwest into the Intermountain West looks to open up by midweek as it absorbs the mid-level remnants of TC Polo and lifts across the central and southern Plains. This system will eventually become absorbed into a northern stream trough digging across the interior Northeast into the northern Mid- Atlantic over the weekend. This will serve to dampen the Southeast ridge a bit and allow an influx of Gulf and Pacific moisture across the Gulf Coast and Mid-South, potentially reaching our region over the weekend. There is still considerable spread among the probabilistic model guidance regarding the exact timing and track of these features, but a cold front is likely to approach the area over the weekend into early next week. Ahead of this front and its attendant surface low/wave, rain chances look to increase late Saturday and especially Sunday/Monday. One signal common to all guidance, even this far out, is a notable increase in PWATs, with values potentially reaching 1.5-2" by Sunday. With the front potentially settling slowly across the region, with the potential for locally heavy rainfall also potentially increasing once again late in the weekend. There is still plenty of time to monitor this potential over the next several days. In terms of temperatures, increased clouds/precip and onshore flow favor cooler temps over the weekend into early next week, but not abnormally so. Highs Saturday likely range through the 70s and 80s, with higher PoPs and cloud cover bringing slightly cooler 70s Sunday and Monday into the middle of next week.

Aviation · 12Z Tuesday Through Saturday

As of 655 AM EDT Tuesday...

VFR conditions across area terminals to begin the 12z TAF period. Despite sfc moisture and light winds, considerable cloud cover between 4-6 kft AGL early this morning will tend to limit any fog potential, though some spotty MVFR VSBYs have been noted where some limited clearing has occurred. Will likely see some additional spotty ground fog SW of the terminals in south central VA and NE NC through 12z or so. Otherwise, remaining partly to mostly cloudy today, though CIGs remain safely VFR across terminals. Light winds become N-NW at RIC/SBY,E-NE this afternoon PHF/ECG/ORF. A bit less cloud cover late tonight will increase the potential of more widespread low stratus/fog early Wed morning. 00z HREF/REFS probabilities for sub-VFR CIGs/VSBYs have increased AOA 60% at PHF/SBY, with lower but still notable probability rises also observed at RIC/ECG. Have included fog mention at PHF/SBY late tonight for now.

Outlook: Aside from the late night/early morning fog potential, prevailing VFR looks to prevail through most of the week as high pressure settles near the area. Rain chances increase over the area over the weekend ahead of approaching low pressure and a cold frontal passage.

Marine

As of 230 AM EDT Tuesday...

Key Messages:

Benign marine conditions across the waters today through much of this week.

Latest analysis shows the nor'easter weakened off the New England coast with high pressure pushing into the area, centering over the area over the next two days before shifting offshore late week. The high pressure will allow for benign marine conditions through the end of the week. Winds will be light around 5-10 kt generally out of the W-NW today, and will locally become onshore with the seabreeze. Wednesday, winds will become more southerly and overnight S-SE winds will increase slightly to ~10 kt, remaining below SCA conditions. Ahead of the next system, winds Thursday and Friday will be SW and increase to ~15 kt both nights. Waves and seas through the end of the week will be 1-2 ft and 2-3 ft, respectively. Next chance for SCA headlines comes by the weekend, though there remains a good deal of uncertainty as the next front may linger over the region before eventually pushing south into early next week.

There is a low risk of rip currents across all beaches today through Thursday.

AKQ Watches / Warnings / Advisories

MD...None. NC...None. VA...None. MARINE...None.

Hazardous weather outlook Sep 29, 4:33 AM EDT

The office’s own seven-day heads-up for spotters and emergency managers.

FLUS41 KAKQ 290833
HWOAKQ

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Wakefield VA
433 AM EDT Tue Sep 29 2026

MDZ021>025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ048-060>062-064>069-075>090-092-
097>100-509>525-528>531-300845-
Dorchester-Wicomico-Somerset-Inland Worcester-Maryland Beaches-
Northampton-Hertford-Gates-Pasquotank-Camden-Western Currituck-
Bertie-Chowan-Perquimans-Eastern Currituck-Fluvanna-Prince Edward-
Cumberland-Goochland-Caroline-Mecklenburg-Lunenburg-Nottoway-Amelia-
Powhatan-Westmoreland-Richmond-Northumberland-Lancaster-Brunswick-
Dinwiddie-Prince George (including Hopewell and Petersburg)-
Charles City-New Kent-Gloucester-Middlesex-Mathews-Greensville-
Sussex-Surry-James City-Southampton-Chesapeake-Virginia Beach-
Accomack-Western Louisa-Eastern Louisa-Western Hanover-
Eastern Hanover-Western Chesterfield-
Eastern Chesterfield (Including Col. Heights)-
Western Henrico (Including the City of Richmond)-Eastern Henrico-
Western King William-Eastern King William-Western King and Queen-
Eastern King and Queen-Western Essex-Eastern Essex-York-Newport News-
Hampton/Poquoson-Isle of Wight-Suffolk-Norfolk-Portsmouth-
433 AM EDT Tue Sep 29 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Maryland, northeast 
North Carolina, central Virginia, east central Virginia, eastern 
Virginia, north central Virginia, south central Virginia and 
southeast Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

$$

NWS/AKQ

The outlooks beyond

SPC, WPC, CPC and the Drought Monitor, read at this point

The national centers each publish a judgment the local grid does not carry. Read here at this exact coordinate.

Severe weather

  1. Day 1 · Tue Sep 29No risk area
  2. Day 2 · Wed Sep 30No risk area
  3. Day 3 · Thu Oct 1No risk area
  4. Day 4 · Fri Oct 2No risk area
  5. Day 5 · Sat Oct 3No risk area
  6. Day 6 · Sun Oct 4No risk area
  7. Day 7 · Mon Oct 5No risk area
  8. Day 8 · Tue Oct 6No risk area

Rainfall

  1. Day 1 · Tue Sep 29Under 0.01 in
  2. Day 2 · Wed Sep 30Under 0.01 in
  3. Day 3 · Thu Oct 1Under 0.01 in
  4. Day 4-5 · Oct 2–Oct 30.50 in
  5. Day 6-7 · Oct 4–Oct 50.75 in

The rainfall forecast on the map, days 1 to 7

Six to fourteen days

  1. Days 6–10 · TemperatureNear normal most likelyOct 4–Oct 8
  2. Days 6–10 · Precipitation40% chance above normalOct 4–Oct 8
  3. Days 8–14 · Temperature33% chance below normalOct 6–Oct 12
  4. Days 8–14 · PrecipitationNear normal most likelyOct 6–Oct 12

Drought

  1. Drought Monitor, map of Sep 22D0 Abnormally dry

Drought in this county: the map, the record since 2000 and the outlook

Frost and climate

NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Wallops Island Flight Fac

The last spring freeze (32°F) usually comes around March 31 and the first fall freeze around November 11: a growing season of about 225 days.

One fall in ten brings a freeze by October 31; one spring in ten still has one after April 13.

Climate of 37.84, -75.57: normals, records and every month

Everything else on the grid

NWS forecast grid · 31 elements

The forecast office edits about sixty fields for every cell of its grid. The common ones are above; these are the rest, as the daily extreme, for anyone who needs the mixing height, the fire danger or the swell.

ElementTueWedThuFriSatSunMonTue
HeatRisk max0 · Little1 · Minor1 · Minor1 · Minor1 · Minor1 · Minor0 · Little0 · Little
Wet bulb globe temperature max70°72°75°76°70°68°65°61°
Heat index max73°75°79°83°71°-120°
Wind chill min-120°
Chance of thunder max0%0%0%4%8%9%9%2%
Cloud ceiling min4,000 ft
Visibility min7 mi5 mi
Pressure min0.01 inHg0.01 inHg0.01 inHg0.01 inHg
Mixing height max2,300 ft2,400 ft1,000 ft400 ft
Transport wind max5 mph6 mph10 mph10 mph
Twenty-foot wind max6 mph6 mph10 mph10 mph10 mph12 mph12 mph12 mph
Atmospheric dispersion index max1010137
Low visibility risk max8965
Stability max6655

Against the record

NOAA GHCN · Wallops Island Stn (WAL) · 8.9 mi away

Each forecast day against the same calendar date at the nearest long-record station: the 1991 to 2020 normal, and the record high and low with the year they were set.

DayForecastNormalRecord highRecord low
Tue Sep 2974° / 60°74° / 58°90° (1973)47° (1981)
Wed Sep 3076° / 65°73° / 56°88° (1986)43° (1992)
Thu Oct 180° / 67°73° / 54°89° (1986)41° (1993)
Fri Oct 282° / 67°74° / 56°93° (2019)41° (1992)
Sat Oct 372° / 62°75° / 57°90° (2002)36° (1974)
Sun Oct 468° / 60°75° / 58°89° (1986)35° (1974)
Mon Oct 565° / 53°73° / 57°90° (2002)38° (1974)
Tue Oct 662° / 52°73° / 56°89° (1997)41° (1999)

Sun and moon

DayCivil twilightSunriseSunsetCivil twilightDaylightMoon
Tue6:30 AM6:56 AM6:48 PM7:14 PM11 h 52 min Waning gibbous · 90% lit
Wed6:31 AM6:57 AM6:47 PM7:13 PM11 h 50 min Waning gibbous · 83% lit
Thu6:32 AM6:58 AM6:45 PM7:11 PM11 h 47 min Waning gibbous · 74% lit
Fri6:33 AM6:59 AM6:44 PM7:10 PM11 h 45 min Waning gibbous · 64% lit
Sat6:34 AM7:00 AM6:42 PM7:08 PM11 h 42 min Last quarter · 54% lit
Sun6:34 AM7:01 AM6:41 PM7:07 PM11 h 40 min Last quarter · 43% lit
Mon6:35 AM7:02 AM6:39 PM7:05 PM11 h 37 min Waning crescent · 33% lit
Tue6:36 AM7:02 AM6:38 PM7:04 PM11 h 36 min Waning crescent · 23% lit

Forecast from the National Weather Service forecast grid at api.weather.gov, updated by the local office through the day; the written periods and hourly digest are the NWS’s own. Outlooks from the Storm Prediction Center, the Weather Prediction Center and the Climate Prediction Center via NOAA’s map services. Records and normals from NOAA’s Global Historical Climatology Network. Sun and moon computed here. Place names from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).

What is here

Seven days
The high, the low, the chance and amount of rain and snow, the wind and the forecaster’s words for each day and night, from the National Weather Service grid for the exact cell your town sits in.
Hour by hour
Temperature, what it feels like, dew point, humidity, chance and amount of precipitation, wind and gusts, sky cover, the chance of thunder, pressure, visibility and ceiling, as a chart and as a table, with nights shaded.
Everything else on the grid
The office edits about sixty fields for every cell. The ones the mainstream forecast pages leave out are here as a daily table: HeatRisk, wet bulb globe temperature, lightning activity, mixing height, transport wind, the fire weather indices, and at the coast the waves and swell.
The discussion
The Area Forecast Discussion the forecaster wrote to explain the forecast, in their own words, with the specialist annexes folded away. Also the office’s hazardous weather outlook.
Beyond the week
The Storm Prediction Center’s severe weather category for each of the next eight days, the Weather Prediction Center’s rainfall forecast to day seven and its winter storm severity, and the Climate Prediction Center’s odds for days six to fourteen, all read at your coordinate.
Against the record
Each forecast day beside the same date at the nearest long-record station: the thirty-year normal and the record high and low with their years, so a forecast high that would break a record says so.
The next 90 days
The forecast as far as the grid, the National Blend and the global models reach, and the calendar after that: the normal and the record for every date, with the Climate Prediction Center’s lean for the weeks, the month and the season drawn over them. No made-up highs for a date three months out.

Common questions

Where does this forecast come from?

From the National Weather Service forecast grid published at api.weather.gov, the same grid the local forecast office edits through the day and the source of every forecast on weather.gov. The written periods, the hourly digest and the forecaster’s discussion are the NWS’s own products, shown as issued. Nothing here is a blend a website made.

How far ahead does it go?

The grid runs seven days ahead, hour by hour for the first days and in three to six hour steps after that. The National Blend of Models carries the days to eleven and the global models to sixteen. Beyond that the page carries the national centers’ outlooks, severe weather to day eight, rainfall to day seven, and the Climate Prediction Center’s odds for the coming weeks, month and season, over a ninety-day calendar of the normal and the record for each date. No forecast has skill day by day past about two weeks, and this page does not print one.

Why is this different from the app on my phone?

Most forecast apps show a blend of models chosen by the company that makes the app. This page shows the forecast the local National Weather Service office issues, edited by the forecasters who will also issue the warnings, and it shows all of it rather than the six numbers that fit on a phone. The discussion explains the reasoning, which no app carries.

What is a place’s address here?

Every town has its own page, such as /forecast/us/oklahoma/oklahoma-city/, and every day at a town has one too. A ZIP code typed into the search goes to the town it belongs to. Any coordinate at all can be looked up, and the page names the nearest town.

What the weather actually was · Open the live radar · Where the data comes from