Magnificent start to Memorial Day weekend, rain chances lurk ahead

Happy Friday – and what a fantastic Friday it is! Sunny skies and comfy highs have found their way back into the Carolinas this afternoon as most communities in the Piedmont and Foothills post up in the 70s. Expect more of the same as we kick off Memorial Day weekend, although a few more clouds may show up by Saturday afternoon. Enjoy the sunny start to the holiday weekend while it lasts; we may not see much more of it for a while.

Scattered rain chances arrive overnight Saturday into early Sunday morning, but most of the shower activity will be limited to the I-85 corridor and southward. A few pockets of drizzle may linger past sunrise, but most of the WCCB Charlotte viewing area remains dry for the vast majority of what will be an overcast Sunday. Another round of scattered rain pushes across the region Sunday night into Monday morning; this round will be heavier and more widespread. However, just like Saturday night’s rain, most communities dry out by Memorial Day morning. While our holiday Monday won’t be a washout, don’t expect to get a tan, either. Overcast skies will continue their dominance as highs struggle to get much above 70° around the Metro.

The bulk of the rain takes center stage overnight Monday into Tuesday, and this time, it’ll stick around. Widepsread scattered showers and a few storms take over the first day of the holiday-shortened workweek as most cities and towns in our area rack up at least a half-inch of rain. Tuesday’s system will slowly clear out to the east by Wednesday, but it will struggle to clear the moisture along with it, meaning higher humidity levels and rain chances linger through much of next week as highs build back into the 80s.

Tonight: Clear and cool. Low: 53°. Wind: N 5-10.

Saturday: Mostly sunny with clouds building late. High: 78°. Wind: W 5-10.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers late. Low: 62°. Wind: Light.

Sunday: AM few showers. PM cloudy. High: 78°. Wind: E 5-10.