Friday morning showers possible, followed by afternoon thunderstorms across the region
This Memorial Day weekend in North Carolina will be hot and humid with a chance for scattered afternoon storms each day.
Friday morning showers or storms are possible, especially in eastern counties, clearing by 9 a.m. Afternoon storms may pop up later, localized and clearing after sunset.
Expect a chance for scattered afternoon thunderstorms for most of the holiday weekend. However, none of these days should be a total washout.
- Friday: Late-day storms. Highs in the upper 80s.
- Saturday: Level 1 risk for severe storms. Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. High 86.
- Sunday: Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 90.
Memorial Day weekend: Humid and stormy
There is a chance for storms all weekend. Friday, Saturday and Sunday each feature a 50% chance for precipitation.
"We're in summer-like pattern," WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell said. "That means pop-up, scattered thunderstorms the build in the heat of the late afternoon rather than an organized storm system with widespread impact."
Saturday will be mostly sunny in the morning, with afternoon thunderstorms developing between 2 p.m and 8 p.m.
It'll be another hot one, with highs reaching the upper 80s to low 90s. The heat index will make it feel even hotter, potentially reaching the mid-90s by Sunday and Monday.
For Sunday it will be partly cloudy with a 40-50% chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Highs will be in the upper 80s to low 90s.
Heading to the coast?
The good news is the rip current risk is low for the entire weekend. Outer banks will see highs in the upper 70s, while the southern beaches will reach the mid-80s. Keep an eye out for the beach flags though: yellow for moderate rip current risk and red for high risk.
Looking ahead to next week, things start to change on Tuesday.
The humidity will ease up, and Wednesday and Thursday look fantastic with plenty of sunshine and dry weather. Highs will be in the low 80s on Wednesday and a refreshing 76 on Thursday, with lows dipping back down into the 50s.
Lightning safety: Hear thunder, see Anvils, check winds - stay ahead of the storm
Here's how to stay safe:
Hear thunder? Head inside! If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you. Seek shelter in a sturdy building or enclosed vehicle immediately.
Spot anvil clouds? Check the forecast. Anvil clouds, those flat-topped giants in the distance, often signal a strong storm approaching. It's a good idea to check the weather app for updates.
Watch for wind shifts. A sudden change in wind direction can indicate a storm's outflow. Check your weather app's radar to see the storm's movement.
7-day forecast for central NC
- Friday: Late-day storms possible. High near 90 degrees.
- Saturday: Scattered showers and storms. Highs in the mid 80s.
- Sunday: Scattered showers and storms. Highs in near 90.
- Monday (Memorial Day): Hit and miss storms but mostly just hot. High of 90 degrees.
- Tuesday: Clear and cooler. High of 86.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny skies. High near 80.
- Thursday: Rain showers in the morning with scattered thunderstorms arriving in the afternoon. High 84.
Prepare for a busy 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will see 17 to 25 named storms in the Atlantic basin, according to the NOAA forecast. The agency has never predicted a higher number of storms for a 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, NOAA researchers predict:
- 17 to 25 named storms
- 8 to 13 hurricanes
- 4 to 7 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher)
The NOAA forecast is in line with earlier forecasts issued by North Carolina State and Colorado State universities.
A combination of a La Niña pattern and record warm waters in the Atlantic Ocean set up the conditions for storms to form, organize and strengthen.
