Meteorological summer is
still a month away , but a summertime feel will be in the air next week. Before that, a damp weekend is ahead for Richmond. Several outdoor activities are scheduled for this weekend, from the seasonal kickoff of
Friday Cheers to the 53rd annual
Arts in the Park . On Friday, some occasionally gusty southwest breezes will continue until sunset; otherwise, the forecast looks excellent for outdoor festivities on Friday evening as temperatures edge into the 70s after sunset and hold in the 70s until after midnight. Going from zero to five, the scale shows the different impacts on your home: from minor to catastrophic. A very weak storm system approaches from the west on Saturday morning, and it will occasionally spill showers into Richmond both Saturday and Sunday. Both days look mostly cloudy this weekend, but neither looks especially wet from start to finish.
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An area of high pressure will nudge southward down the east side of the Appalachians, keeping the larger and more consistent areas of rain away from Richmond this weekend. But it will not be enough to keep rain away entirely. A few passing sprinkles are possible around dawn Saturday, then after a break, another wave of showers moves in during the afternoon and evening. The window for rain continues through the night and Sunday morning. The rain total over the weekend will not provide a deep soaking, with only a 10th- to a quarter-inch expected. Early data indicates the chance for rain decreases substantially after midday Sunday, and both days this weekend will reach the 70s beneath the cloudy sky, making it more reminiscent of a cloudy and damp summer day than one in the spring. This also indicates that the humidity will be hovering at levels we have not frequently seen so far this year. Even though it will not approach the stifling humidity of July and August, it will be noticeable compared to earlier this week. Next week, our winds aloft will remain from the west and southwest, keeping any relatively cooler air several states away to the north. The result will be afternoon temperatures in the 80s with lows in the 60s — more typical of the first week of June versus May. The one upside is that Virginia will get some weak disturbances passing through next week, enhancing the chance for some showers and thunderstorms, especially Wednesday and Thursday. But there are no signs of a widespread soaking rain — a singular storm that would bring an inch of rain over a couple of days — until the end of next week or into the weekend of May 11. As expected, the abnormally dry conditions across North Carolina have continued to creep northward into Virginia. While the state is still far away from a legitimate drought, the past three weeks have brought less than an inch of rain to Richmond, only a third of normal precipitation for that time. Looking deeper into the second week of May, some relatively cooler air may approach after the second weekend of the month, but there is not much to suggest a substantial and longer-lasting cooldown is ahead, so expect temperatures near or above normal through the middle of the month.
Top 5 weekend events: Friday Cheers, ¿Qué Pasa? Festival, RVA Taco Fest
Friday Cheers
Canadian singer-songwriter Bella White kicks off the Friday Cheers outdoor concert series, running almost every Friday night in May and June, on Brown’s Island. 6:30-9:30 p.m.; gates open at 6 p.m. 500 Tredegar St. $10 in advance, $15 at door. www.myticketstobuy.com . ¿Qué Pasa? Festival
Celebrate the beauty and diversity of Hispanic and Latin American cultures at the ¿Qué Pasa? Festival. Enjoy a day filled with Latin music and food, desserts and drinks, an artisan market offering homemade crafts, gifts and more, and a kids’ area with live artist exhibitions and hands-on activities. Noon to 8 p.m. Brown’s Island, 500 Tredegar St. Free to attend; pay as you go. www.quepasafestival.com . Arts in the Park
Saturday and Sunday Experience the beauty of an outdoor gallery at Richmond’s award-winning arts and crafts show Arts in the Park. The two-day event will feature over 350 artists from across the country exhibiting and selling their work, from paintings and ceramics to furniture, metal, crafts, pottery, sculpture, photography and more. There will also be local food vendors. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. At the Carillon in Byrd Park, 1301 Blanton Ave. Free to attend; pay as you go. www.richmondartsinthepark.com . RVA Taco Fest
RVA Taco Fest is bringing 10 food trucks to Hardywood West Creek, for a day of food and fun. Grab tacos from local vendors like 1115 Mobile Kitchen, Arroz, El Guapo, and Happy Arepas, plus Mexican-style lagers from Hardywood. See live performances from bands like Weekend Plans, and The Party Favors. Noon-6 p.m. 820 Sanctuary Trail Drive. Free entry; pay as you go. www.hardywood.com . Asian American Celebration
The Asian American Celebration returns with music and traditional dance performances, hands-on activities, culture booths, food, merchandise and a kids’ village. Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 N. Third St. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free entry; pay as you go. https://aasocv.org/ . Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
