Finally, a Dry Weekend!!!
Good morning folks! We are watching the rain event wind down as we near the midday hour on Wednesday and over the past 24 hours, the highest rainfall total is from Newfound Gap with 2.91" Elsewhere across SW NC totals are generally above 1.5", with a handful of sites closer to the GA and SC state lines just a hair under the 2" mark. We'll see shower coverage scale back to the TN line as the day moves along and perhaps some light snow showers along the highest peaks overnight, but nothing to write home about. Friday will be sunny, windy and cold, and Saturday hits the repeat button. The forecast has changed for Sunday since we last spoke with rainfall chances dropping and high clouds passing overhead. It may take till Monday afternoon for showers to return to the region and widespread rain is likely Tuesday into Wednesday as another cold front sweeps the Southeast. All in all, a somewhat quiet next five days and we are keeping an eye on late next week for the possibility of wintry precip.
Temps Thursday night will plummet into the low - upper 20's under partly to mostly cloudy skies depending upon location; the closer you are to TN, the more clouds will be overhead. A few snow showers are possible, but nothing that will bring accumulating snow to the ridgelines. NW winds will be on the rise, steady around 5 - 15mph and gusting up to 40mph above 4500'.
Windy conditions persist into Friday and carry over into Saturday but we'll notice a shift in wind direction from the NW on Friday to the SW by Saturday afternoon. Wind speeds will remain steady around 10 - 15mph both days and gust up to 40mph Friday (slightly less on Saturday), so nothing too crazy but with temps in the low 30's - mid 40's both days it will sure be something to consider as you step out the door. Overnight lows dip into the upper teens - mid 20's Friday night under clear skies, however they'll only settle into the mid 20's - low 30's Saturday night as southerly air brings us warmer temps, in addition to increasing moisture levels that will produce partly cloudy skies.
This increase in moisture will be enough to have high clouds overhead most of the day Sunday, but not enough for showers to develop. Temps will warm to the low 40's - mid 50's to round out the weekend, with overnight lows settling into the low - mid 30's under increasing clouds.
Monday (President's Day) keeps passing clouds overhead and by the mid - late afternoon hours enough moisture will be present for isolated showers. As the front approaches Tuesday morning, additional showers will develop, becoming widespread as the front crosses the region late Tuesday afternoon/evening. Temps Monday will warm to the mid 40's - upper 50's Monday and peak on Tuesday as they reach the upper 40's - low 60's depending upon elevation.
We'll stop here and circle back Saturday early afternoon, pushing the timeline into late next week and providing more detail about the middle of the week rain event. Enjoy the sunshine Friday and Saturday!