Ninety-one today, mostly sunny through lunch, then a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. The morning belongs to the heat — west wind light, gusts to 22 mph by afternoon. Storms taper off by 8pm tonight, leaving partly cloudy skies and a low around 63. Saturday flips the script: sunny, 91 again, no rain in sight.
The Taubman's open 10 to 5 today — good timing if the storms chase you indoors mid-afternoon. History Museum of Western Virginia runs the same hours. Mill Mountain Theatre's got an 8pm curtain tonight, which puts you inside right as the storms clear out. A Few Old Goats is pouring on the main floor all day — the courtyard's perfect until 2pm, then you're better off at the bar watching the weather move through. They've usually got a rotation of IPAs and a blonde; ask what's fresh.
If you're heading outside, do it before noon. The Roanoke River Greenway from Wasena Park east toward downtown stays shaded in stretches — about 25 minutes on foot from the flats. Mill Mountain's a tougher sell in 91-degree heat, but the overlook's worth it if you start early and bring water. By 2pm, you want to be off the trail. The Star's always there; the storms will be too.
Tomorrow's the day to stretch the outdoor hours — sunny, no rain, same heat but none of the afternoon tension. Tonight after 8pm, once the storms blow through, the courtyard at the flats will cool down fast. Sixty-three overnight, light wind, partly cloudy. That's the window.
At the flats, the brewery's the play this afternoon — cold beer, good airflow, windows facing the courtyard so you can watch the build-up. The patio's open now, and it'll stay comfortable until early afternoon. After that, you're inside. By evening, assuming the storms keep their schedule, you'll have the courtyard back — cooler, quieter, clear enough to see what's left of the sky.