Monday brings Level 1 risk for severe storms, heat wave arrives next week

Sunday will be the start of a warm spell that lasts all of next week.

Sunday will be sunny and warm – a great day to get outside! Highs will be well above normal, reaching 82 degrees Sunday.

Humidity will be low on Sunday, and it's going to be a breezy day.

• Sunday: Sunshine. High of 82.
• Monday: Plentiful sunshine. High of 87.
• Tuesday: Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s.

Severe storms in store Monday, big warm-up on the way this week

On Monday, there will be a Level 1 risk for severe storms from the Triangle and points to the north. The biggest threat will be damaging wind gusts. The timing of the storms will be during the evening hours.

The rest of the week will be mostly sunny with calm conditions. Expect some afternoon clouds, but overall it will be a dry and hot week.

We'll see mid to upper 80s for most of the week, with our normal high being 72°F.

Humidity will be low on Sunday, increasing slightly on Monday and Tuesday but remaining tolerable. Overall, it shouldn't feel too uncomfortable despite the heat.

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

• Sunday: Clear skies. High of 83.
• Monday: Mostly sunny and even warmer. Highs in the upper 80s.
• Tuesday: Sunny and warm. High 86.
• Wednesday: Some clouds return. Highs in the upper 80s.
• Thursday: Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. High 91.
• Friday: A mix of clouds and sun in the morning giving way to a few showers during the afternoon. High 77.
• Saturday: Partly cloudy skies. High 74.

Beautiful 'double rainbow' after the storms earlier this week

Several WRAL viewers from places like Dunn and Coats got a special treat after the storms rolled past: A bright and vivid 'double rainbow.'

One person sent a lovely view from Dunn near the Food Lion Distribution Center.

Another sent a view from Coats, looking eastward.

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.