Taste of summer heat & humidity

AM Headlines:

• Hot & Steamy
• Friday PM Storms
• Storm Threat Lingers Saturday

We’re heading into a summerlike pattern with heat, humidity, and a few windows for strong to severe storms. The cap is the big player—warm air aloft is acting like a lid, keeping storms from forming in most areas today as highs break into the mid 80s. That cap will likely hold much of Friday as well, but if it breaks near or north of I-40, any storm that develops could turn severe quickly with damaging wind or large hail. Highs will peak near 90 ahead of a cold front Saturday.

Models show a line of strong storms forming in the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys, possibly reaching the NC mountains by early Saturday. It will likely weaken before it makes it into the Piedmont, but we could still see gusty winds or an early morning shower. Behind the storms, the weakening cold front will drop into the area. It could stir up a few additional storms if timing lines up with daytime heating. Otherwise, the weekend stays warm and breezy with temps still well above average.

Looking ahead, a stalled front to our south may lift back north early next week. That could bring a few more rounds of rain, especially Monday and Tuesday in the mountains. By Wednesday, a deeper system may take shape in the Midwest, giving us our next shot at more organized storms. Temps will remain above average with highs in the low to mid 80s.