Hold onto your hats ... blustery day in the Valley

It's a blustery day in the Shenandoah Valley with 30 mph wind gusts that began overnight and are expected to continue throughout the day. Partly cloudy skies offer a chance of rain. Hang onto those umbrellas and hats. It's windy out there!

It's autumn in the Shenandoah Valley....

Shenandoah Valley under high wind warning

Morning downpours have given way to extremely high winds in the central Shenandoah Valley today causing electrical outages and runaway trash cans.

Our electricity was out for an hour-and-a-half earlier this afternoon when apparently a tree branch fell across the lines. Thanks to the hard-working Shenandoah Electric Co-Op guys, we are now back online but it could happen again before this wind moves out.

WHSV TV-3 out of Harrisonburg has issued the following alert:

A wind advisory has been issued for the entire viewing area until 8 p.m. Saturday. Wind gusts could be as high as 50 miles per hour Friday night. Gusts may get as high as 60 miles per hour Saturday, especially in higher elevations. Travel conditions could be dangerous, especially for high-profile vehicles.

It's a blustery day ... hang onto your hats!

Winter weather expected for western Virginia

Is anybody ready for snow? A winter weather advisory has been put into effect for Highland County for up to two inches of snow today.

The SWAC area is under a wind advisory with cold northwest gusts up to 45 mph and snow flurries possible from lake-effect snow. SWAC Husband saw snow flurries yesterday as he drove around Harrisonburg. Temps today and tomorrow will again be in the mid-40s but with the brisk wind it feels much colder.

WHSV TV-3 reports:

VALLEY - High temperatures will be in the 40's for Tuesday and Wednesday. Overnight lows will be near freezing. We have a chance of rain and possibly snow Tuesday night. Windy and cold conditions stay with us through Wednesday, but the sun returns on Thursday and things warm back to the 60's for Halloween.

WEST VIRGINIA - Cooler temperatures and a chance of some rain, and higher elevation maybe even snow through Wednesday morning in the higher elevations, there could be one to two inches of accumulation. Warmer weather will return to end the week.

The woodstove is going ... it's chilly out there!