Rainy Monday starts unsettled pattern this week
After a wet Saturday and Sunday, we will see an unsettled start to the week.
We still have some bands of rain showing up on radar, but our coverage will lighten up into the evening, according to WRAL meteorologist Anthony Baglione.
Lows will be mild tonight in the mid 60s.
We'll see partly to mostly cloudy skies that will continue into Monday afternoon before showers and storms pop up.
- Monday: Showers early then scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. High 83.
- Tuesday: Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87.
- Wednesday: Partly cloudy and hot with highs in the low 90s. We'll also see the chance for a stray shower or storm.
Sunday's high was only 81 degrees. However, temps ramp back up next week, reaching into the 90s by Wednesday and Thursday.
Rain chances continue into next week, heat returns
Don't put those rain jackets and umbrellas away just yet, we have a stretch of unsettled weather on the way.
We have a 60% chance for rain on Monday, and those chances will decrease throughout the week.
Our next best chance for storms will come during the afternoon commute and into the evening.
"We're not outlined in the severe risk as of Sunday evening, but I could see the potential for a Level 1 since some of the storms could be a bit potent with some gusty winds," Baglione said.
After a brief break from 90-degree temperatures, the summer-like heat is set to return Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday has a high of 92 degrees, but it could feel even hotter.
Things will feel tropical on Thursday before we drop to more comfortable humidity levels on Friday as a cold front moves into the area.
With all this warm weather, the flowers and trees are blooming – meaning pollen counts are high. If you're sneezing, spring allergies could be to blame.
As of April 29, rainfall stats for our area are down from normal levels. RDU is in a 2.29" deficit for April while Fayetteville is in a deficit of more than an inch.
7-day forecast for central NC
- Monday: Partly cloudy skies and hotter. Highs in the low 80s.
- Tuesday: Small chances for showers in the afternoon and evening. High of 87.
- Wednesday: Partly cloudy skies with a chance for showers and storm. Potentially the hottest day of the year with highs in the low 90s.
- Thursday: Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High near 90.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. High 84.
- Saturday: Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 74.
- Sunday: Chance of Rain and Thunderstorms. 30% chance of precipitation. High of 76
Prepare for a busy 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will see 15 to 20 named storms in the Atlantic basin, according to researchers at North Carolina State University.
The number of named storms is significantly higher than the long-term average and moderately higher than recent 30-year averages, according to Lian Xie, professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences at NC State.
In 2024, NC State researchers predict:
- 15-20 named storms
- 10 to 12 may grow strong enough to become hurricanes (the historical average is six)
- Three to four becoming major hurricanes
Meanwhile, forecasters at Colorado State University are calling for 24 named storms in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. That is higher than the average year, when 14 storms earn a name.
CSU forecasters say 11 storms will reach hurricane strength, up from the average of seven, and five of those hurricanes could be "major," that is Category 3, 4 or 5, with winds over 111 mph.
