WRAL Weather Alert Day issued for Saturday, increased threat for Southern Counties
Saturday is a WRAL Weather Alert Day due to rain showers throughout the morning with numerous thunderstorms brewing in the afternoon. High temperatures will only reach the upper 70s.
Posted — UpdatedWe have a Level 1 threat for the Triangle area and points north, increasing to a Level 2 threat for areas south towards Fayetteville and Wilmington.
Saturday morning might be dry, but the afternoon and evening will see widespread showers and storms.
Some of these storms could be severe. The heaviest rain is expected between 3 and 9 p.m, and there's a chance of localized flooding.
"The biggest risk is from severe storms with damaging winds and large hail. An isolated tornado threat is also possible, especially near the South Carolina border in the afternoon and evening," Meteorologist Mike Maze said.
- Saturday: WRAL Weather Alert Day: Rain showers in the morning with numerous thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s.
- Sunday: Showers early, becoming a steady rain later in the day. High of 70.
- Monday: Intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day. High 77.
Rain chances continue into weekend, dry week ahead
Grab the umbrella! We have rain in the forecast all weekend.
After Saturday's WRAL Weather Alert Day, Sunday will be another rainy day.
"The weekend is definitely looking unsettled with scattered showers and storms each day, especially into the afternoons and evenings," Baglione said.
Sunday will also be cooler.
"Highs will be much cooler on Sunday, in the upper 60s, with the rain and clouds around," Baglione said.
It will be very muggy over the weekend but as we get into Monday and Tuesday of next week it should turn less humid and morning lows will fall into the 50s.
We have an early look at Memorial Day Weekend and it looks like it could be warmer than normal and wetter than normal as well.
7-day forecast for central NC
- Saturday: Warm with a chance for storms. Highs in the upper 70s.
- Sunday: A passing shower. High of 70.
- Monday: Partly Cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s.
- Tuesday: Partly Cloudy. 20% chance of precipitation. Highs in the low 80s.
- Wednesday: Intervals of clouds and sunshine. Highs in the mid 80s.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny skies. Highs in the upper 80s.
- Friday: Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High around 85.
Prepare for a busy 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
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 N.C. State.
In 2024, N.C. 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.
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