Calm night Tuesday before WRAL Weather Alert Day for Wednesday & Thursday
We'll have a slim chance for storms overnight before a WRAL Weather Alert Day on Wednesday and Thursday.
We just have a 20% chance for a shower or storm tonight, but chances will drop overnight and into early Wednesday morning.
"It's likely you will have dry weather for your dog walk or just getting outside to enjoy the muggy evening," WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze said.
- Wednesday: Weather Alert Day: Partly cloudy and hot with highs in the low 90s. A stray shower or storm.
- Thursday: Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. High of 78.
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WRAL Weather Alert Day issued for Wednesday, Thursday
Wednesday and Thursday are WRAL Weather Alert Days.
Our risk was upgraded form a Level 1 risk to a Level 2 risk. WRAL meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth said the best chance for storms will be late Wednesday and early Thursday morning,
The biggest threats will be damaging wind gusts and hail.
On Thursday, isolated tornadoes and damaging winds are possible as a powerful front crosses North Carolina. It is the same front that is produced deadly tornadoes earlier in the week in Oklahoma.
"The environment is ripe for storms for storms to strengthen and produce damaging winds and hail," WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell said.
The heat and humidity combine for plenty of fuel such that any storms that develop could be severe, she said.
We'll most likely see the same risk level or higher for Friday, but no severe risk has been issued yet. Gardner said damaging winds will be the biggest threat, and rain will be heavy at times.
Temperatures will also ramp back up this week. Wednesday has a high of 92 degrees, but it could feel even hotter. Things will feel tropical on Thursday before we drop to more comfortable humidity levels on Friday as a cold front moves into the area.
Rain chances continue into Mother's Day weekend
With all this warm weather, the flowers and trees are blooming – meaning pollen counts are high. If you're sneezing, spring allergies could be to blame.
7-day forecast for central NC
- Wednesday: Partly cloudy skies with a chance for showers and storms. Highs in the low 90s.
- Thursday WRAL Weather Alert Day: Showers and thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. High of 78.
- Saturday: Mostly clear. High of 74.
- Sunday: Chance of morning rain. Highs in the upper 70s.
- Monday: Partly cloudy skies and warmer. Highs in the low 80s.
- Tuesday: Partly cloudy skies and still warm but with comfortable humidity levels. Highs in the upper 70s-lower 80s.
"Over the weekend, we get the nice, refreshing feel back," said Campbell.
Prepare for a busy 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will see 15 to 20 named storms in the Atlantic basin, according to researchers at North Carolina State University.
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 NC State.
In 2024, NC State researchers predict:
- 15-20 named storms
- 10 to 12 may grow strong enough to become hurricanes (the historical average is six)
- Three to four becoming major hurricanes
Meanwhile, 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.
