Warming up and drying out briefly

Nicole Madden,

AM Headlines:
  • Warming Up & Drying Out
  • Breezy PM
  • Dry & Cooler Valentine’s Day
  • Wet & Stormy Weekend
  • Colder, but Dry Early Next Week
Discussion:
After a rainy start, today turns more mild and breezy as the cold air wedge finally breaks, allowing west winds to warm temps into the low 60s this afternoon. Colder air sets up tonight with lows falling into the 20s and 30s. High pressure will keep it sunny but cooler for Valentine’s Day with highs reaching the upper 40s to lower 50s. By early Saturday, high pressure will shift east locking in colder air as a disturbance to the south brings more wet and potentially wintry weather for areas north of I-40. Temps will warm by midday, so any freezing rain will turn to a cold rain by midday. Sunday is a bit more concerning. A strong low pressure system will tap into more Gulf moisture, bringing heavy rain and possible storms to the area. If the warm sector pushes further north a few strong to severe storms will be possible near and south of I-85. Heavy rain could also cause localized flooding with 1-3″ of rain possible. By Presidents’ Day we will dry out again with a cooler start to the next week with highs in the upper 40s to lower 50s and lows in the 20s and 30s. Another system midweek could bring more unsettled weather to the region.