Waves of rain, storms to end the work week

Nicole Madden,

Weather Headlines:

  • Rain Returns Today

  • Storms and More Soggy Weather Friday

  • Cooler Through Saturday

  • Warm Up Begins Sunday

Discussion:

We’re tracking an upper-level low diving into the Carolinas that will bring two rounds of rain, cooler temps, and some isolated storms beginning this afternoon through the end of the week. Scattered showers will begin to pop up after lunchtime and remain on and off through the afternoon. Umbrellas will come in handy for the evening commute as the rain become more steady from west to east. A second wave of rain develops overnight into early Friday, with a few rumbles of thunder possible in the western part of the DMA. Rainfall totals through Friday morning should be around 0.25 to 0.5”.

Friday is the main impact day as the upper low sits overhead. Expect more widespread showers and isolated storms in the afternoon. Anson, Richmond, and Chesterfield counties are included in a Level 1 Marginal Risk for isolated damaging winds or small hail. The Charlotte metro and areas west will stay breezy, damp, and cool. Highs will be stuck in the 50s to low 60s. Friday could bring an addiitonal .5 to .75″ of rainfall before drier air presses into the region.

By Friday night, colder air moves in aloft. That could support a brief changeover to wet snow at the highest peak – little to no accumulation is expected.

Saturday will be brisk and cooler behind the system as we dry out. Winds will gust up to 20–30 mph in the mountains and foothills. Expect morning clouds with some clearing  by the afternoon and highs in the 50s to low 60s.

Sunday begins a more pleasant rebound to spring. Expect sunny skies, dry weather, and a warming trend. Highs top out near 70 Sunday, then into the upper 70s by Monday. A weak front Tuesday may bring a slight chance of isolated showers, mainly east of I-77, but rain chances look low overall. Wednesday will be cooler with highs back near 70 and remaining dry behind the front.