Taste of fall this weekend

Happy Friday! We’ve turned the page into August, and while the new month picks up where July left off, a major pattern change arrives this weekend. Summer chugs along this afternoon as highs top out near 90° in the Piedmont and Foothills; today could be the 26th-straight day the Queen City ends up at 90° or warmer. Regardless of what happens this afternoon, our hot streak comes to a screeching halt on Saturday as the coolest air we’ve seen in two months arrives.

A powerful ridge of high pressure builds to our north over the next 48 hours, pumping cooler air into the Carolinas from the northeast this weekend. This will lead to a classic “winter wedge” setup across the WCCB Charlotte viewing area – the dense, cooler air will sink to the surface and “wedge” itself against the Appalachian Mountains. Warmer mid-level winds are forced over the pocket of cooler air, leading to clouds and pockets of showers as highs struggle to clear the 60s and 70s across the board. The wedge effect may continue into the second half of the weekend, but highs should recover closer to 80° on Sunday around the Metro. Medium-range models remain confident that below-normal temperatures will carry well into August’s first full week.

Today: Hot and humid with scattered storms. A few storms may be heavy. High: 90°. Wind: NE 5-10.

Tonight: Scattered storms become more isolated overnight. Low: 69°. Wind: NE 5-15.

Saturday: Overcast with scattered showers, especially SW. High: 75°. Wind: NE 5-15. Gusts: 20+

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy with a few showers. Low: 67°. Wind: NE 5-15.

Sunday: Variable clouds. Stray shower? High: 77°. Wind: NE 5-15. Gusts: 20+