90-degree temps on tap Friday, showers on the way
Friday has the potential to be even hotter than Thursday.
Friday will be a dry and hot day, with temperatures reaching the low 90s. We'll be chasing another record for the highest temperature currently set at 93 degrees back in 1959.
There's a slight chance of a stray storm reaching our western counties, but overall, Friday should be a dry day. The greatest chance for rain will be overnight.
- Friday: Partly cloudy skies. High of 91.
- Saturday: Isolated showers and storms possible. Highs in the low 80s.
- Sunday: Cloudy with 50% chance for showers. High 81.
Weekend brings storms, slight cooldown
We've got lots of rain in store this weekend.
Showers are expected to start overnight and continue into Saturday. There will be a slight lull Saturday morning before we see more showers Saturday afternoon and evening.
The Komen Triangle Race for the Cure Saturday morning should be dry, but don't rule out a light shower.
Saturday's rain is expected to be light, with accumulations of a quarter inch or less.
Again, we'll see a lull Sunday morning. We have a 50% for showers Sunday afternoon and evening.
"We will see afternoon and evening storms each day," said WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner. "Mainly what we will see is afternoon and evening rain and storms. There is a chance of rain in the morning both days."
After temperatures in the 90s on Thursday and Friday, the weekend will be slightly cooler. Saturday has a high of 82 degrees, and Sunday's high is only 81 degrees.
Rain chances continue into next week, heat returns
Rain chances continue into early next week.
We have a 60% chance for rain on Monday, and those chances will decrease throughout the week.
After a brief break from 90-degree temperatures, the summer-like heat is set to return Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday has a high of 94 degrees, but it could feel even hotter.
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.
As of April 29, rainfall stats for our area are down from normal levels. RDU is in a 2.29" deficit for April while Fayetteville is in a deficit of more than an inch.
7-day forecast for central NC
- Friday: Partly cloudy skies. High of 91.
- Saturday: Isolated showers and storms possible. Highs in the low 80s.
- Sunday: 40% chance for rain and storms. Highs in the low 80s.
- Monday: Partly cloudy skies and hotter. Highs in the low 80s.
- Tuesday: Small chances for showers in the afternoon and evening. High of 87.
- Wednesday: Partly cloudy skies with a chance for showers and storm. Potentially the hottest day of the year with highs in the low 90s.
- Thursday: Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. High near 90.
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.
