Highs rise into weekend
Opportunities for afternoon pop-up showers and storms linger into the weekend, but most locations remain dry through the next 72 hours.
The dog days of summer continue into the back half of July as highs howl into the mid-90s over the next few days, fueled by plentiful sunshine and southwesterly winds. While isolated showers and storms may pop up over the afternoons ahead, most locations remain dry through the next 72 hours as a powerful ridge of high pressure builds from the east. Heat index values will regularly crack the triple digits over the next five days, so make sure to stay hydrated and take plenty of indoor breaks. While there is no significant rainmaking system in sight, rain chances increase into early next week as some tropical moisture swells into the Carolinas from the southwest.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) continues to monitor a disturbance in the northern Gulf for potential tropical development, but it’s running out of time – and real estate. The broad area of low pressure has been hampered by land interaction along the Gulf Coast, with the NHC downgrading its chances of getting a name to 30% over the next 48 hours. While it appears less likely that we’ll see Tropical Storm Dexter anytime soon, heavy rain is in the forecast for much of the central Gulf Coast over the next few days. Some of the leftover moisture from this system may surge into the Carolinas by the beginning of next week, which could bump up rain chances for the WCCB Charlotte viewing area within this timeframe.
Today: Variable clouds. PM isolated storms. High: 93°. Wind: SW 5-15.
Tonight: A stray storm or two early, then mostly clear. Low: 75°. Wind: SW 5-10.
Friday: Mostly sunny with a stray storm. Hot. High: 96°. Wind: SW 5-15.
Friday Night: A stray storm early, then mostly clear. Low: 75°. Wind: Light.
Saturday: Hot sunshine. PM stray storm? High: 96°. Wind: SW 5-15.
