Dry start Sunday before storms chances rise in the evening; WRAL Weather Alert Day on Memorial Day
After thunderstorms popped up Sunday night, we'll be in for a dry start Sunday before a WRAL Weather Alert Day on Monday,
Thunderstorms popped around 6 p.m. Saturday, prompting severe thunderstorm warnings in several counties and a flash flood warning in Wake County.
The rain chances should be gone by Sunday morning, but humidity will be near 100% for much fo the morning.
Lows will be in the upper 60s.
Sunday will be mainly dry, but we'll have some storms move through late Sunday evening. The main threat will be further west in the mountains.
The storms, however, will move into the area by the evening.
Our hot weekend continues on Sunday, with highs in the low 90s.
- Sunday: Partly cloudy as showers and storms move through during the evening. High near 90.
- Monday: Mostly cloudy early. Scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. A few storms may be severe. High 91.
- Tuesday: Clear and cooler. High of 86.
WRAL Weather Alert Day Memorial Day
Monday is a WRAL Weather Alert Day, bringing a level 2 risk of severe storms to the Triangle.
As a cold front moves on Monday, it will bring a good amount of instability to the atmosphere, along with some fast winds.
The biggest threats for these storms will be damaging winds, hail and an isolated tornadoes, but most storms won't roll through until the late afternoon and early evening.
"As it looks now, we may still see a lot of dry-time during the day before some showers and storms closer to late afternoon and evening," Baglione said.
Rain in the forecast on Sunday, however, could change the location of the worst of the storms.
"We'll need to keep watching," Baglione said.
Track rain with DualDoppler5000 | Live cams in NC show beach conditions | Subscribe for severe weather alerts
Heading to the coast?
The good news is the rip current risk is low for the entire weekend. The 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.
Next week, 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
- 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.
- Friday: Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 79F
- Saturday: Mostly Clear. High of 83
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.
