Forecast Last Updated at Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 11:09AM

My Name is Earl

Earl dominates the weather news, but it will have no direct effect for us. Details about Earl can be found in the Discussion Section below. We are experiencing another gorgeous day with warm temperatures. Friday, a weak front will move through late bringing just the slight chance of a shower or thundershower late. As Earl moves into Canada Saturday, much cooler air will surge into the Southeast U. S. giving us a much cooler weekend with deep blue skies--a taste of Fall. I had to take a golfball from Saturday because of a breezy NW wind. Dry weather continues next week with a gradual warm-up.

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Thursday Hi: 85 Lo: 56 Sunny and warm; Light & variable wind

Friday Hi: 84 Lo: 54 Scattered PM clouds; Slight chance for a late-afternoon or early evening shower or t-shower; Still warm during the afternoon; NW wind 5-15 mph increasing to 10-20 mph at night & gusty

Saturday Hi: 72 Lo: 43 Deep blue skies with a few clouds; A noticeably cooler fall preview; NW wind 10-20 mph & gusty during the daytime

Sunday Hi: 73 Lo: 42 Bright sunshine; Great day; Cool night

Monday Hi: 79 Lo: 50 Generally sunny for Labor Day; Fantastic weather to be outside

Further Out

Tuesday - Sunny; Warmer; High in the lower 80s; Low in the lower 50s
Wednesday - Continued dry, pleasant; High in the lower 80s; Low in the mid 50s

Forecast Discussion

We'll start with Hurricane Earl even though it will not have any direct effect on our weather. Earl is a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 140 mph. It is located about 300 miles South of Cape Hatteras moving N at 18 mph. The center of Earl is expected to pass near or just east of Cape Hatteras tonight. However, Earl is a large storm with hurricane force winds extending 90 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extending 230 miles from its center. All NC Coastal areas are going have significant effects later this afternoon and tonight. The good news (other than the fact that the core of the storm will make a brushing pass along the coast) is that Earl is a fast mover--it will be near Cape Cod Friday night and over Nova Scotia Saturday.

Our weather forecast is still as easy as it can be. High pressure remains in control today--clear skies and warm. A front will move through late Friday; however, Earl is hogging all the moisture. We have the slight chance of a late-day or early evening shower or thundershower Friday favoring the west side of the Appalachians. Cooler air will surge southward in Earl's wake giving us a much cooler weekend--beautiful with temperatures near or just below normal. High pressure will be in control next week dry weather and gradually warmer temperatures.

Elsewhere in the tropical Atlantic... Fiona will remain no more than a tropical storm moving north and passing near Bermuda Friday night. Tropical storm Gaston formed yesterday in the Central Atlantic it will gradually strengthen as it moves WNW toward the northeastern Caribbean--possibly next week's issue in the Caribbean. Yet another tropical wave in the Cape Verde Parade moved off the African coast yesterday.

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