Above Normal Temps Return
Good Morning Folks! After a spectacular showing these past few days, the weather will begin to revert back to its summertime form, with temps gradually warming today into next week alongside increasing moisture levels. We'll have a fairly dry weekend this go around however by Monday enough moisture will be in the air to allow pop up showers each afternoon. Coverage will be isolated to scattered both Monday and Tuesday, with an increase as we head into the latter part of next week, mainly due to a frontal passage which has yet to be ironed out by the models. Regardless, it seems this rise in temps will be somewhat short lived, although late next week will not be as nice as this past Thursday and Friday.
Temps today (Saturday) will rise to the mid 60's along the ridgelines to the low 80's throughout the valleys, with passing clouds overhead before noon, slowly dissipating as the afternoon moves along. We don't think any showers will develop this afternoon, but in case we are wrong, the area best situated for shower activity will be along the TN line and nearby ridgelines. Temps dip into the low - upper 50's tonight (depending upon elevation) under somewhat clear skies, with fog developing shortly after midnight for most of the valleys throughout SW NC.
Sunday wraps up the weekend with temps rising to the upper 60's - low 80's, however there should be more sunshine overhead and coupled with increasing moisture levels, the heat index will also rise so prepare for a fairly muggy afternoon. Isolated thunderstorm chances increase slightly compared to today, with the best chance for shower activity occurring late in the day and across areas that rise out of the valleys and begin to meet the ridgelines (warm, moist air interacting with our ridgelines). Temps settle into the mid 50's - low 60's under partly cloudy skies Sunday night.
Monday through Wednesday features temps in the mid 80's under more sunshine than cloud cover, with isolated shower chances each afternoon, gradually increasing with each passing day. The upper level ridge that is responsible for this increase in sunshine and temps will begin to break down later next week, allowing temps to return to the low 80's by Friday, however more cloud cover will be overhead alongside an increase in shower chances. The models do not have a firm grip on when or how the front will impact the region late next week, but what is clear is that the upper level ridge will weaken and this should lead to a cooler setup heading into next weekend, which we all know is WCU's first home football game of the season!
We'll circle back Monday morning with another discussion and this should be enough time to work out the model differences for late next week, but as of right now, go ahead and begin making plans for a pleasant football Saturday in the Whee!