Upcoming System(s)

Let's take this apart one time-period at a time and let me give you my thoughts....

Tonight will be quiet with lows in the upper 50s.

Saturday - Here in the Piedmont, we should stay dry in most spots through the morning hours. But, I expect scattered showers and storms to fire in the afternoon as a cold front approaches. A few storms could be strong, but the upper level support doesn't look to be there for a huge severe weather outbreak.

Saturday night - Showers and storms could linger through the evening hours, but I expect them to end overnight as a cold front pushes south of the region.

Sunday - The day should start off dry with the front to our south. However, that frontal boundary will lift back northward Sunday afternoon, and along with it will come additional showers and storm chances.

Sunday night - Pretty good chance for some showers and storms here with the warm front clearing through the area and upper level dynamics improving with time.

Monday - A band of rain and storms should push through the region Monday morning, clearing out by afternoon. This will happen as a sharp cold front pushes through.

Behind that cold front, it will get much cooler, and I will continue to mention some upper 30s for lows Tuesday and/or Wednesday morning.

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Unsettled weekend ahead...

Delightful weather continues through tomorrow with our Friday afternoon highs in the lower 80s in most spots. An isolated shower or storm is possible in the mountains and foothills, but I think we remain dry here in the Piedmont.

The weekend forecast remains a rather tricky one. I still like the idea of scattered showers and storms Saturday afternoon into Saturday night as a cold front drop in from the northwest.

The models then diverge a bit for Sunday. It definitely looks like the most widespread shower and storm activity during the day Sunday will be off to our south in South Carolina. However, it is very close, and for this forecast package, I am keeping the chance for a scattered shower or storm in Sunday's forecast.

A strong upper air trough will then pull through Monday, and I expect a healthy area of rain and storms to sweep through the Carolinas late Sunday night into Monday.

A strong or severe storm looks possible really at any point Saturday through Monday, but the best chances for organized severe activity look to be Monday morning.

And, it still looks like a nice shot of cooler, fresh air will plunge in here by Monday night. I am still going with some lows in the upper 30s at some point Tuesday or Wednesday morning.

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Midweek

A persistent deck of status clouds is holding firm over the Piedmont as I am typing this. I would think that the clouds will break up some this afternoon and allow some sunshine in, and I have worded my on-air forecast for Charlotte and the Triad as such.

We should be dry and warm tomorrow and Friday before our next system drops in this weekend. It is a complicated set-up for us. A cold front will initially drop in here later Saturday, and some showers and storms are possible then. That cold front will then stall out before lifting back northward Sunday as another low pressure develops and moves off to our northwest.

At this point, it looks like we should see numerous showers and storms Sunday, Sunday night, and maybe Monday morning as well. As always with severe weather possibilities, the devil is in the details, but if the overall set-up turns out as described above, we could have some strong to severe storms to deal with, especially Sunday and Sunday night.

Behind that system, it looks like a nice shot of cooler air will arrive. I would not be surprised if we had some upper 30s for lows by Wednesday morning next week!

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Two Tornadoes Confirmed

Two tornadoes touched down yesterday evening, as confirmed by the GSP NWS.

One tornado touched down near Fallston in Cleveland County, and a second tornado touched down about 5 miles west of Lincolnton in Lincoln County. Both were rated an EF 1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.

Here is the storm report map from Saturday.

Here is the storm report map for Sunday.

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