Pleasant Thursday Before Weekend Storms

• AM Patchy Fog
• Weekend Storms
• Cooler-Drier Next Week
• Hurricane Ernesto

Waking up to more patchy fog across the region this morning. It will clear by mid-morning. The rest of the day gets a gold star with lower humidity, sunny skies and highs slightly below average in the mid to upper 80s. Isolated showers possible late afternoon in the mountains today, with increasing storm chances Friday and Saturday. A cold front will near the region tomorrow bringing storm chances to the high country. Scattered to numerous storms Saturday for the rest of the area as the front slides into the Carolinas. Damaging wind and localized flooding will be the biggest concerns as temps warm back into the low 90s. The front will stall Sunday leaving some scattered rain and storm chances for the area. Next week will be cooler and drier with highs back in the mid 80s beginning Monday.

Ernesto is a category 1 hurricane located more than 600 miles southwest of Bermuda. A hurricane watch is in effect for Bermuda with the center of Ernesto forecast to pass near Bermuda Saturday. The storm is forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane within the next 24-36 hours. No direct impacts to the US East coast, but dangerous surf and rip currents will begin along the Carolina coast tonight and continue through this weekend.

Winds – Tropical Storm conditions possible by Friday for Bermuda, with hurricane conditions by Saturday

Rainfall – 3-6″, with up to 10″ for Bermuda leading to life threatening flash flooding

Surf – Dangerous swells will reach Bermuda and the US East Coast by tonight, creating life threatening surf and rip currents.