Taste of fall continues, tropics heat up
Get ready for a string of cool, dreary, and soggy days as moisture streams northward from the Gulf.
Our taste of fall continues into August’s first full workweek as highs remain 10-15° below average this Monday afternoon. Afternoon temperatures likely fail to crack 80° around the Metro and northward for a third-straight day as overcast skies maintain their hold on the Carolinas. While this cooler stretch is nice, our pattern unfortunately begins to turn nasty as moisture streams northward from the Gulf, bumping up rain chances over much of the week ahead. Rain chances pick up by this Monday evening, with off-and-on showers likely across the board through the back half of the week. Most communities will see at least 1-3″ of rain over the next five days.
Highs may not reach the 80° mark in the Queen City until Thursday as a strong “Carolina wedge” setup remains with a robust area of high pressure to our north. A more typical summertime pattern returns by next weekend, but temperatures appear to stay below 90° on Saturday and Sunday for now. We’re just seven weeks away from fall!
While the Carolinas remain cool for now, the tropics are only heating up from here. Tropical Storm Dexter formed roughly 500 miles east of the Outer Banks late Sunday night and is poised to continue northeastward over the coming days. While Dexter won’t affect the Carolinas directly, our beaches will see an increased rip current risk through midweek. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is also monitoring two other areas this week – one off the coast of South Carolina and another coming off the western coast of Africa with a 30% and 50% chance of development, respectively. The are no immediate threats to the Carolinas, but peak hurricane season is just around the corner.
Monday: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers later in the day. High: 78°. Wind: NE 5-10.
Monday Night: Overcast with scattered showers. Low: 66°. Wind: NE 5-10.
Tuesday: Scattered showers continue. Even cooler. High: 73°. Wind: NE 5-10.
Tuesday Night: Another wet and cloudy night. Low: 64°. Wind: NE 5-10.
Wednesday: Rain, heavy at times. High: 75°. Wind: NE 5-10.
