Great weekend weather...

Our coastal low is slowly pulling out to sea, and that will allow for some fantastic weekend weather. A nice chance to dry out!

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More wind and rain today...

Our coastal low continues to cause a lot of problems in a lot of places....see the video for details, plus our weekend and next week forecast.....

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Significant wind and rain event unfolding...

A detailed look at our current significant rain and wind event.

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Major rain event for the Southeast...

A significant rain event heading into the region.....



Tropical Storm Ida came ashore this morning near the Mississippi/Alabama state line. The remnants of Ida will combine with a separate storm system moving in from the west and provide the Southeast with a memorable rain event.

Here in the Piedmont, rain will increase in coverage and intensity today as a fetch of Atlantic moisture begins to bank up against the mountains. This, combined with the approaching remnants of Ida, will cause a healthy coverage of rain around the region tonight and tomorrow. The rain will be heavy at times tonight and tomorrow, and it will really begin to pile up.

The rain chances now look to continue at least in periodic fashion through Thursday and maybe even Friday morning. The heaviest rain by Thursday and Friday will be along the coast.

In terms of total amounts of rain over the next few days, I think a widespread 3"+ rainfall is looking likely, and some localized spots could pick up over 5" if all goes the way it looks right now. Flooding could become an issue in time as the rain amounts pile up.

Winds will become a problem tonight and especially tomorrow into Thursday. We could easily see some wind gusts in excess of 35 or 40mph at times, and with saturated soils, some trees could topple. We will continue to evaluate that threat.

It will be chilly tomorrow and Thursday as well with it being a struggle to get temps out of the upper 40s.

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All eyes on Ida....

Discussing Hurricane Ida and its impacts here in the Carolinas in today's video....



Hurricane Ida continues to head for a landfall on the Gulf coast late tonight. Out ahead of the system, clouds are spilling into our area today. It is will pleasant today, however, with highs close to 70.

The rain looks to really settle into our area tomorrow, with the heaviest rain likely occurring from late tomorrow through tomorrow night.

Forecasting the rain totals is very tricky. One of our computer models (the NAM) actually gives us no rain, while others (GFS and RPM) give us upwards of 4 inches. At this point, I certainly feel odds favor a soaking rain, and many Piedmont locations could pick up in excess of 2 inches, maybe more.

Flooding could be a problem in some spots if we do see the heavier rain amounts materialize.

It will become pretty breezy tomorrow night into Wednesday behind the system. However, once this system exits, I don't see another good rain chance for the rest of the week or weekend.

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Sunday morning Ida thoughts....

Ida is looking pretty healthy this morning and is near Category 2 hurricane strength as I am typing this. I expect strengthening to continue today. Some slow weakening will then likely occur as Ida get over cooler waters in the northern Gulf of Mexico and the system begins to feel the effect of more hostile upper level winds.

I think there is a good chance Ida comes ashore somewhere between southeastern Louisiana and the extreme western Florida panhandle.

It gets interesting after that up the I-85 corridor from Georgia through the Carolinas. It sure looks like this area will have the potential for heavy rains as Ida interacts with a storm system approaching from the west. It is too soon for the details to be clear, but the potential is there for several inches of rain along the I-85 corridor.

A lot of modeling then bombs out what was once Ida as an extra-tropical system just off of the Outer Banks. This would provide gales for portions of the eastern Seaboard, and could give the interior Carolinas a very chilly, showery day behind the main system.

Interesting system.......I will have a new edition of the video and lots more information posted early Monday morning.....

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