Severe threat Thursday, spicy start to summer
Opportunities for rain will be few and far between after Thursday's storms.
Happy Hump Day! Highs have once again soared near 90° across much of the Piedmont this Wednesday afternoon, but isolated storms in the Foothills and High Country have kept the western third of the WCCB Charlotte viewing area much cooler. Storms should be on our minds again on Thursday; a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe weather has been posted for much of the Metro and northward. While most short-range models keep a large portion of our area dry, any storms that fire up along a cold front slicing through the Carolinas Thursday evening may contain strong winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning.
Slightly cooler and drier air filters into the Carolinas behind the front in time for our first day of summer on Friday. Highs will still end up near 90° around the Metro for the final day of the workweek, but humidity levels edge lower, making the heat slightly more tolerable. Any scant relief from the heat we see on Friday melts away by the weekend as a powerful ridge of high pressure parks over the Southeast. Highs will soar into the mid-to-upper 90s early next week as heat indices approach 110° south and east of the Metro.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Mild and muggy. Low: 73º. Wind: SW 5-10.
Thursday: Hot and humid with PM isolated storms. A few storms may be heavy. High: 91°. Wind: SW 10-20. Gusts: 25+
Thursday Night: A few storms early, then clearing. Slightly cooler. Low: 69°. Wind: Light.
Friday: Hot sunshine. Cool breezes. High: 89°. Wind: N 5-10.
