Summer surges back into Carolinas

Happy Hump Day! Tuesday’s high of 87° in Charlotte was the warmest day we’d seen since the first of the month, and it gets even hotter as we head toward the weekend. The Queen City hasn’t cracked 90° in nearly two weeks, but that streak is in serious jeopardy over the coming days as tropical air continues to flow into the Carolinas from the southwest. While a few Piedmont and Foothills communities reach the 90s this Wednesday afternoon, most areas top out in the upper 80s as clouds and scattered afternoon storms do their best to temper highs.

More sunshine returns to the WCCB Charlotte viewing area by the weekend as highs likely surge back into the 90s around the Metro between Friday and Sunday. While a few storms may fire up in the afternoons this weekend, more locations remain dry, sunny, and hot. Expect the classic summertime pattern to continue through at least the first two days of the next workweek.

Tropical Storm Erin continues its journey westward over the open Atlantic this morning. The two-day-old storm has been fighting dry air ever since it was named, but will be moving into more favorable territory for strengthening over the next week or so. Erin will likely become the first Atlantic hurricane of the season by the start of the weekend and could attain majory Category 3+ status by Sunday night. Virtually all long-range models curve Erin well east of the Carolinas early next week, but the storm will still be worth watching for any changes in track within this timeframe.

Today: Mostly cloudy with scattered storms. High: 87°. Wind: SW 5-15.

Tonight: Overcast with a stray shower. Low: 74°. Wind: SW 5-10.

Thursday: Variable clouds with scattered storms. High: 87°. Wind: SW 5-10.

Thursday Night: A few storms early, then mostly cloudy. Low: 74°. Wind: Light.

Friday: Mostly cloudy early with more sunshine later in the day. Stray storm? High: 92°. Wind: NE 5-10.