Record highs ahead

Ready or not, here comes summer. The clouds are finally clearing the WCCB Charlotte viewing area this Thursday afternoon and temperatures have quickly responded by jumping into the 80s across much of the Piedmont and Foothills. We’ll still have to deal with variable clouds and patchy fog Friday morning, but partly-to-mostly sunny skies in the afternoon will usher highs near 90° around the Metro and southeastward. Charlotte’s record high for this Friday currently stands at 87°; this mark will be in serious jeopardy as we close out April’s first workweek.

The summer-like heat continues into Saturday as stiff winds continue to pump Gulf-warmed air into the Carolinas from the southwest. Relief from temperatures 15-20° above average doesn’t arrive until Sunday as a robust rainmaking system arrives from the northwest. The rain will be a welcome sight, but we’ll want to watch closely for a few strong storms in the evening. The slow-moving system may keep rain chances around through Monday afternoon before clearing to the east, dragging much cooler air along behind it. Don’t start planting your gardens just yet – frost and freeze are possible Tuesday night as lows dip into the 20s and 30s across the board.

Tonight: Variable clouds. Patchy fog late. Low: 67°. Wind: S 5-15.

Friday: AM clouds and fog. PM partly sunny and hot. High: 90°. Wind: SW 5-15.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy. Mild. Low: 67°. Wind: SW 5-15.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. Another hot one. High: 88°. Wind: SW 5-15. Gusts: 20+