Warmer than Normal, Rain Chances Increase by Week's End

Good Morning Folks! Congrats to the WCU Football team for their win over Newberry this past Saturday and happy Labor Day to everyone! There will be a bit more sunshine today than yesterday, however isolated thunderstorms are still likely and much like yesterday, the majority of the action will develop along the escarpment (SC state line). We'll continue to enjoy drier weather and above average temps today through Wednesday, but as the upper level ridge breaks down shower chances increase Thursday and Friday, possibly peaking this upcoming weekend. There is still a good deal of uncertainty into how much rain will fall Thursday into the upcoming weekend, as the tropics throw a minor wrench into the forecast and because of this setup we advise keeping alternate plans if your outdoor activities don't jive well with scattered to widespread showers. The only silver lining to the increasing rain chances is that temps will cool back down to normal, but it may take till Friday.

Labor Day looks pleasant for most and if you live near or along the escarpment in towns such as Lake Toxaway, Cashiers or Highlands, prepare for afternoon showers as easterly flow remains strong across the region. Temps will soar to the upper 80's along the valley floor and reach the low 70's along the ridgelines. High clouds are likely before sunset as showers disperse across the region, setting up partly cloudy skies for most of us tonight, however dense fog is likely for our more sheltered valleys (Cullowhee, Waynesville and Franklin); temps dip into the low - mid 60's.

Tuesday and Wednesday offer up more sunshine than cloud cover, but of course with so much heat and moisture available there will be isolated thunderstorms and a few that could be heavy rain producers. Temps remain above average as they reach the low 70's - upper 80's each afternoon, settling back into the low - mid 60's each night.

Thursday and Friday bring a bit more cloud cover to the region as the ridge begins to break down, allowing clouds to develop as the day moves along, but also because a cold front will approach from the west sometime Friday. Temps will cool down to the mid 60's along the ridgelines to the low - mid 80's for the valleys. The best chance for showers is on Thursday and possibly again on Sunday as what may be the tropical remnants of Gordon migrate into the region.

All in all, above average temps today through Wednesday, still muggy but cooler Thursday into next weekend and we are still trying to pin down how much rain will fall Thursday into Sunday. ENJOY!