Pleasant stretch continues

The sunny skies and warmer highs continue this Thursday afternoon after the Queen City found its way into the 80s on Wednesday for the first time since the weekend. Expect abundant sunshine and highs in the mid-80s across the Piedmont and Foothills for the final two days of the workweek as a powerful upper-level ridge continues its dominance over the Eastern Seaboard. The warm and dry times will carry into the weekend as we close within a week of autumn. Outside of a stray shower east of the Metro this Thursday afternoon, rain chances flatline through the next five days.

Opportunities for moisture remain few and far between through the first half of next week as highs continue to roll around the mid-80s across the Metro. While you have the green light for all of your outdoor plans this weekend, fire danger will likely increase into next week if the dry times continue. A big source of rain this time of year for the Carolinas comes from the tropics – while there are no immediate threats to the mainland U.S. over the coming days, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is tracking an easterly African wave that has a 30% chance of becoming a named storm over the next seven days.

Today: Warm sunshine. High: 84°. Wind: NE 5-10.

Tonight: Clear and calm. Low: 61°. Wind: Light.

Friday: Another stunner. High: 84°. Wind: NE 5-10.

Friday Night: Cool and dry. Low: 59°. Wind: NE 5-10.

Saturday: Beautiful. High: 84°. Wind: N 5-10.