Forecast Last Updated at Thursday, August 17, 2017 at 10:04PM

Warm Overnight

Warm, humid air and a front approaching from the northwest. That's the formula for scattered showers and storms and that's what we got today. The showers and thunderstorms this evening have diminished and we have mostly to partly cloudy skies for the remainder of the overnight. We'll have a repeat performance Friday as the front moves through in the afternoon (maybe slightly less rain coverage overall). The front will be to our south and east Saturday through Monday--very warm but drier air. While some afternoon cloudiness will be around Monday afternoon, I think we'll get a decent look at the Solar Eclipse. The event happens between 1 and 4 PM Monday peaking just after 2:30 PM.

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Thursday Hi: 81 Lo: 67 Partly cloudy; Warm; West wind 5-10 mph

Friday Hi: 80 Lo: 65 Partly to mostly cloudy; Muggy; Widely scattered PM showers and thunderstorms; West wind 5-15 mph

Saturday Hi: 81 Lo: 60 Mostly sunny; Warm; NW wind 5-10 mph becoming light

Sunday Hi: 82 Lo: 62 Some afternoon cloudiness; Warm; Cannot rule out a PM shower or storm

Monday Hi: 82 Lo: 63 Mostly to partly sunny; Remaining warm; Isolated PM showers or t-showers

Further Out

Tuesday - Partly to mostly cloudy; Scattered PM showers & t-showers; High near 80 degrees; Low in the mid 60s
Wednesday - Mostly cloudy; Scattered PM showers & t-showers; High in the upper 70s; Low in the lower 60s

Forecast Discussion

High pressure in the Gulf of Mexico pumped the warmest air of the summer into the Southern Appalachians. Warmth combined with high humidity and a front approaching the northwest lead to scattered afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. Friday looks like a repeat performance as the front moves through in the afternoon; however, Friday may have slightly less coverage overall.

The front settles to our east and south this weekend. It results in almost no temperature change, but the air is drier mostly removing the threat of rain. I cannot completely rule out a renegade thundershower Sunday afternoon.

Everyone is asking about Monday. Expect some afternoon cloudiness but a decent look at the eclipse. The period of the eclipse in NW NC is between 1 and 4 PM peaking around 2:35 PM. A stray shower or thundershower cannot be ruled out.

The next front arrives next Wednesday night. It's approach adds clouds to Tuesday and Wednesday with scattered afternoon and evening showers and storms. We'll break the brief heat wave after this front moves through.

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