Spicy days ahead

Happy Friday! We’ve made it to the end of the week – and the end of the dreary and soggy pattern that’s been plaguing the forecast over the past week. A powerful ridge of high pressure will set up shop over the Carolinas this weekend, allowing for plentiful sunshine and highs near 90° for many across the Piedmont and Foothills. While a few storms may pop up over the afternoons ahead, most communities in the WCCB Charlotte viewing area will remain dry far more often than not. The heat swells into the start of the workweek – highs may approach the mid-90s on Monday – before another wet cooldown arrives later on.

Tropical Storm Erin is finally beginning to strengthen as it closes within 250 miles of the Leeward Islands in the northeast Caribbean. Erin will likely become the first hurricane of the 2025 season today before strengthening further into a major Category 3+ storm by the end of the weekend. Models continue to suggest Erin will make a sharp turn northward by the start of the workweek and curve out to sea before getting too close to the U.S. mainland. While no direct impacts are expected in the Carolinas right now – and the WCCB Charlotte viewing area is almost certainly in the clear – rough surf and dangerous rip currents could be issues for beachgoers well into next week. We’ll continue to keep you weather-wise as the forecast progresses.

Today: Mostly sunny. Hot with a stray storm. High: 90°. Wind: NE 5-10.

Tonight: A stray storm early, then partly cloudy. Low: 72°. Wind: Light.

Saturday: Mainly sunny. Stray storm? High: 90°. Wind: NE 5-10.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Mild and muggy. Low: 72°. Wind: Light.

Sunday: Abundant sunshine. Even hotter. High: 93°. Wind: NE 5-10.