Light showers kick off Wednesday morning commute, severe risk reduced for Thursday's WRAL Weather Alert Day ⛈️
Scattered showers will be likely Wednesday before a WRAL Weather Alert Day on Thursday.
Wednesday will be mostly cloudy, and a few light showers will be possible.
The rain will linger into the morning hours. Lows will be in the upper 50s.
By 10 a.m., the showers should be gone, but there will be another chance for rain around lunchtime.
- Wednesday: Warming to 75 with another sprinkle possible in the afternoon.
- Thursday: WRAL Weather Alert Day. Showers and thunderstorms possible. Highs in the low 70s.
- Friday: Breezy and cooler. High of 70.
WRAL Weather Alert Day issued for Thursday
The severe risk has been reduced for Thursday’s WRAL Weather Alert Day. We are now under a Level 1 risk for severe storms on Thursday’s WRAL Weather Alert Day. That means we have the same risk for damaging winds but a lesser chance for tornadoes. Hail and heavy rain will still be possible.
The best chance for rain and even thunderstorms comes Thursday afternoon.
Some areas could see up to an 1.5 inches of rain on Thursday.
WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said some areas could see 40 mph wind gusts when it isn't raining and storming on Thursday.
"It looks like there will be a ton of [wind] shear," Maze said. "This could end up being a more damaging wind threat and localized flooding too."
Localized flooding will be another concern Thursday. You can get weather alerts from WRAL News for updates about flood watches and advisories in your area.
Weekend looks sunny & warm
The outlook for the coming weekend looks clear and warm. We could reach 83 degrees on Sunday.
With all this warm weather, the flowers and trees are blooming – meaning pollen counts are high. If you're sneezing, that could be why!
7-day forecast for central NC
- Wednesday: Mostly cloudy skies with a slight chance for a few showers. High of 75.
- Thursday: WRAL Weather Alert Day. Showers and thunderstorms possible. Highs in the low 70s.
- Friday: Breezy and cooler. High of 70.
- Saturday: Sunny with highs in the low 70s.
- Sunday: Partly cloudy and warmer. High of 83.
- Monday: Mostly sunny and still warm. Highs in the mid 80s.
- Tuesday: Mostly cloudy and still warm. High of 80.
Prepare for a busy 2024 Atlantic hurricane season forecast
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.
