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Shaded-relief map of Pulaski, Virginia: rivers, roads, the city limits and where the water drains.
VIRGINIA · PULASKI COUNTY

Pulaski

8,805 people, 1,910 ft above sea level in Pulaski County.

1,910 ftElevation, city center
8,805People, 2024 estimate
8 sq miLand area
Sunny 32°
Sunny now Dew point 28° · WNW 9 mph · high 35°
City of Pulaski River Interstate 2 miles
Explore the plate Order a print

The Pulaski plate. Relief from Copernicus GLO-30; rivers and lakes from USGS NHD; watersheds from the USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset; roads and city limits from Census TIGER 2024.

MILE1
TODAY

Today in Pulaski

NWS forecast and National Blend of Models · updated 5:00 PM EST
RIGHT NOW Mercer County Airport (KBLF) · 4:52 PM
Sunny
32° Sunny Feels like 24° · high of 35° near 5 PM
WindWNW 9 mphno gusts
Humidity85%rising to 100% by morning
Pressure30.11 in →steady
Visibility9 mihazy
CloudsClear
UV index—no forecast
Dew point 28° · Dryabout the same for three days
DryComfortableStickyMuggyOppressive
NEXT RAIN
Clear
Not this weeknone in the forecast for a week
LIKELY AMOUNT—nothing expected
LAST RAINNov. 120.32 in · 2 dry days
ALERTS & OUTLOOKS
No watches or warnings for Pulaski County
NWS Blacksburg and the Storm Prediction Center · checked 5:47 PM
SUN & MOON
↑ 7:00 AM5:14 PM ↓
10 h 13 m of daylight, 2 minutes less than yesterday
Waxing crescent, 26% lit. Next full moon: Nov. 24.
AIR & POLLEN
26
GOODAir quality index · ozone
No pollen source yet.

The next three days, hour by hour

Sky: clear, cloudy, night Rain likely National Blend of Models
SATURDAY, NOV. 14
SUNDAY, NOV. 15
MONDAY, NOV. 16
TUESDAY, NOV. 17
5p
8p
11p
2a
5a
8a
11a
2p
5p
8p
11p
2a
5a
8a
11a
2p
5p
8p
11p
2a
5a
8a
11a
2p
mostly cloudy night
mostly cloudy night
mostly cloudy night
overcast
overcast
overcast
overcast
mostly cloudy day
mostly cloudy night
mostly cloudy night
mostly cloudy night
mostly cloudy night
mostly cloudy night
mostly cloudy day
partly cloudy day
mostly sunny
clear night
clear night
clear night
mostly clear night
mostly clear night
mostly sunny
mostly sunny
clear day
TEMPERATURE °F
35°
31°
41°
28°
48°
26°
CHANCE OF RAIN
50%
WIND, MPH
9
9
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8
8
8
8
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5
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1
0
0
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HOW IT FEELS · DEW POINT
Dry: dew points 21 to 32°

The next seven days, and how sure we are

Forecast, with the range 8 in 10 ensemble members agree on Normal, about 53° / 35°
SAT Nov. 14 Mostly cloudy Mostly cloudy
35° 31°
0% rain — WNW 9 A
SUN Nov. 15 Mostly cloudy Mostly cloudy
41° 28°
0% rain — WNW 8 A
MON Nov. 16 Partly cloudy; warmer Partly cloudy; warmer
50° 26°
0% rain — N 2 B
TUE Nov. 17 Partly cloudy Partly cloudy
57° 29°
0% rain — NE 5 A
WED Nov. 18 Sunny Sunny
60° 31°
0% rain — SE 5 A
THU Nov. 19 Mostly sunny Mostly sunny
62° 36°
0% rain — SW 5 B
FRI Nov. 20 Mostly sunny Mostly sunny
62° 36°
0% rain — NW 5 B
How sure are we? AModels agree: highs within 4° BSome spread: within 8° CWide spread: check back
Range from the National Blend of Models percentiles · graded on Forecast Scores
AIR MAIL

Where today’s air came from

The air arriving over Pulaski about 5,000 feet above the ground was over the open Pacific three days ago, and over the northern Plains a day ago, about 3,370 miles back along its path. It came down from about 11,300 feet up, warming and drying as it sank. Near the ground the air came from the Canadian Prairies; at 10,000 feet, from the Pacific north of Hawaii. It feels dry all the same. Traced back 72 hours through NOAA’s hourly RAP analyses and the GFS beyond them, nine paths at each of three heights.

THIS WEEK, SIX YEARS AGO Nov. 11–12, 2020

The wettest two days this week has seen

3.06 inches of rain fell in two days, the most for this week of the year since records began in 1920. The next wettest, 2.67 inches, fell in 2009.

2.67″
3.06″
20092020
Source: NOAA RCC-ACIS, the Pulaski 2 E record since 1920.
MILE2
THE GROUND

What Pulaski stands on

Pulaski’s center stands about 1,910 ft above sea level. Within three miles the land runs from 1,910 ft to 2,950 ft, a difference of 1,040 ft: steep hill country. The highest named summit within 15 miles is Sugar Run Mountain, about 4,090 ft, 14 miles north-northwest.

Under the town center the state geologic map shows Elbrook Formation (dolostone, limestone), from the Cambrian, 487 to 542 million years old.

The section below crosses 11 rock units mapped at the surface.

Pulaski, cut in half from northwest to southeast

A section northwest to southeast, 24 miles through the town center
2,000 ft2,500 ft3,000 ft3,500 ft PULASKI1,910 ftHigh Rock3,780 ftChestnut Mountain2,810 ftNew Riverabout 1,840 ft ← NWSnowville · SE →

Heights every 0.1 mile from the Copernicus GLO-90 surface model; vertical exaggeration about 11×. The colored band under the surface is the rock the state geologic map shows at the surface, not a picture of what lies beneath.

Rock at the surface along the line

Rome Formation

Shale. Age: Cambrian, 487 to 542 million years old. About 5 mi of the line.

Erwin and Hampton Formations

Sandstone, quartzite. Age: Cambrian, 487 to 542 million years old. About 4 mi of the line.

Brallier Formation

Shale, sandstone. Age: Devonian, 359 to 422 million years old. About 4 mi of the line.

Price Formation

Sandstone. Age: Carboniferous, 324 to 359 million years old. About 3 mi of the line.

Elbrook Formation

Dolostone, limestone. Age: Cambrian, 487 to 542 million years old. About 2 mi of the line.

Chemung Formation (redefined as Foreknobs Formation)

Shale, sandstone. Age: Devonian, 359 to 422 million years old. About 2 mi of the line.

From the USGS State Geologic Map Compilation (Horton and others, 2017), the states’ geologic maps joined at a common scale. 5 smaller units along the line are not listed.

Heights from Copernicus GLO-90 (a surface model: it includes buildings and tree canopy); summits from USGS GNIS; rivers from USGS NHDPlus HR; rock from the USGS State Geologic Map Compilation.

MILE3
THE WATER

Where Pulaski’s rain goes

A raindrop that lands in Pulaski reaches the Gulf of America by way of Peak Creek, the New River, the Kanawha, the Ohio and the Mississippi: about 1,950 river miles.

THE WAY DOWN, TO SCALE
Pulaski≈ 1,950 mi · the Gulf of America
FROM THE CENTER OF PULASKI ≈ 1,950 mi to the Gulf of America Peak Creek → New River → Kanawha → Ohio → Mississippi

Lake on the way: Claytor Lake.

970 miles of the trip are on the Mississippi.

Traced down the USGS NHDPlus V2.1 river network from the Census center point of Pulaski; river miles along the main stem, rounded.

MILE5
THE ALMANAC

Pulaski’s year

1991–2020 normals · records since 1920 · Pulaski 2 E

Pulaski has a humid subtropical climate. Summer afternoons average 83° in July; winter nights fall to about 24° in January. A normal year brings about 16 inches of snow; with the rain, that comes to about 40 inches of water.

43°24°46°26°54°31°65°40°72°49°79°57°83°61°81°60°76°53°66°41°55°32°46°26° JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC 12 TODAY PULASKI 40.0 in rain and snowmelt
Normal high to low, by month Record high to low, by day Rain by month Freezing
July, average83° / 61°high / low, the warmest month
January, average43° / 24°high / low, the coldest month
Rain and melted snow40.0 inwettest months: May and June
Snow a year15.8 insnowiest: January
Hottest on record99°FJune 30, 2012
Coldest on record−16°FJanuary 21, 1985
Wettest day on record4.68 inJuly 22, 1922
Snowiest day on record17.0 inFebruary 27, 1987
90° days a year6none reach 100°
Nights at or below 32°119and 13 days that stay below freezing
Climate typeHumid subtropicalKöppen Cfa

AROUND THE RING

1Freeze seasonfrom the first fall freeze, about Oct. 19, to the last in spring, about April 29 (median dates)
2Lows below freezingNov. 13 to March 21; normal lows fall below 32°
NOVEMBER 14 IN THE RECORD

On November 14 Pulaski normally reaches 56° and falls to 32°. The record high is 75°, in 1985; the record low 6°, in 1986. The most rain on this date, 1.12 in, fell in 1972.

MONTH BY MONTH
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Normal high43°46°54°65°72°79°83°81°76°66°55°46°
Normal low24°26°31°40°49°57°61°60°53°41°32°26°
Rain and melt, in3.182.673.563.593.993.963.833.513.222.852.473.17
Snow, inches4.74.62.30.60.00.00.00.00.00.00.13.5
Record high73° (2002)79° (2018)85° (2020)91° (1985)96° (1996)99° (2012)99° (1986)98° (2007)95° (1965)92° (2019)80° (2003)74° (2001)
Record low−16° (1985)−13° (1996)0° (1993)12° (1923)25° (1983)32° (1972)39° (1972)33° (1986)28° (1983)14° (1969)3° (1970)−12° (1989)

Normals 1991–2020 and records since 1920 at Pulaski 2 E, here, 170 ft higher. NOAA, through RCC-ACIS.

MILE7
ON THE NETWORK

Around Pulaski on the Forecast Network

Neighboring plates

Christiansburg VA · 21 MI 21 miles east Blacksburg VA · 22 MI 22 miles northeast Greensboro NC · 84 MI 84 miles southeast Charlotte NC · 127 MI 127 miles south Durham NC · 127 MI 127 miles southeast Raleigh NC · 145 MI 145 miles southeast
FORECASTCITY
Map of Pulaski, Virginia. Explore the plate
VIRGINIA · PULASKI

Pulaski

8,805 people, 1,910 ft above sea level in Pulaski County.

1,910 ftElevation
8,805People
8 sq miLand
Sunny 32°
SunnyDew point 28°
1

Today in Pulaski

NEXT 15 HOURS
Now mostly cloudy night 35° 0%
8p mostly cloudy night 33° 0%
11p mostly cloudy night 32° 2%
2a overcast 31° 0%
5a mostly cloudy night 31° 0%
8a fog 32° 2%
Clear
NEXT RAINNone this week
→
Sat0%
Mostly cloudy Mostly cloudy
31
35
A
Sun0%
Mostly cloudy Mostly cloudy
28
41
A
Mon0%
Partly cloudy; warmer Partly cloudy; warmer
26
50
B
Tue0%
Partly cloudy Partly cloudy
29
57
A
Wed0%
Sunny Sunny
31
60
A
Thu0%
Mostly sunny Mostly sunny
36
62
B
Fri0%
Mostly sunny Mostly sunny
36
62
B
Letters show how sure the forecast is: A, models agree; B, some spread; C, check back. Sample data.
THIS WEEK, SIX YEARS AGO · NOV. 11–12, 2020

3.06 inches in two days, the most for this week since 1920.

2

What Pulaski stands on

Pulaski’s center stands about 1,910 ft above sea level. Within three miles the land runs from 1,910 ft to 2,950 ft, a difference of 1,040 ft: steep hill country. The highest named summit within 15 miles is Sugar Run Mountain, about 4,090 ft, 14 miles north-northwest.

Pulaski, northwest to southeast Pulaski1,910 ftHigh Rock3,780 ftChestnut Mountain2,810 ftNew Riverabout 1,840 ft ← NWSE → 24 miles through the town center; vertical exaggeration about 20×. Colors: rock at the surface.
Elevation, center1,910 ft
Within 3 miles1,910 to 2,950 ft
Lie of the landSteep hill country (1,040 ft of relief)
High point nearbySugar Run Mountain, 4,090 ft, 14 mi north-northwest
Rock at the surfaceElbrook Formation
Its ageCambrian, 487 to 542 million years old
5

Pulaski’s year

Pulaski has a humid subtropical climate. Summer afternoons average 83° in July; winter nights fall to about 24° in January. A normal year brings about 16 inches of snow; with the rain, that comes to about 40 inches of water.

JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC 12 40.0 in
July, average83° / 61° · high / low, the warmest month
January, average43° / 24° · high / low, the coldest month
Rain and melted snow40.0 in · wettest months: May and June
Snow a year15.8 in · snowiest: January
Hottest on record99°F · June 30, 2012
Coldest on record−16°F · January 21, 1985
Wettest day on record4.68 in · July 22, 1922
Snowiest day on record17.0 in · February 27, 1987
90° days a year6 · none reach 100°
Nights at or below 32°119 · and 13 days that stay below freezing
Climate typeHumid subtropical · Köppen Cfa
1Freeze season · from the first fall freeze, about Oct. 19, to the last in spring, about April 29 (median dates)
2Lows below freezing · Nov. 13 to March 21; normal lows fall below 32°
NOVEMBER 14 IN THE RECORD

On November 14 Pulaski normally reaches 56° and falls to 32°. The record high is 75°, in 1985; the record low 6°, in 1986. The most rain on this date, 1.12 in, fell in 1972.

Normals 1991–2020 and records since 1920 at Pulaski 2 E, here, 170 ft higher. NOAA, through RCC-ACIS.
3

Where the rain goes

≈ 1,950 mito the Gulf of AmericaPeak Creek → New River → Kanawha → Ohio → Mississippi

A raindrop that lands in Pulaski reaches the Gulf of America by way of Peak Creek, the New River, the Kanawha, the Ohio and the Mississippi: about 1,950 river miles.

Lake on the way: Claytor Lake.

970 miles of the trip are on the Mississippi.