With the warm embrace of a mostly sunny day, residents of Raleigh, NC can expect the mercury to steadily climb, reaching a high near 82. A gentle northeast wind will be changing pace, deciding to blow light and variable as the day unfolds. However, those clear skies aren't meant to last, with showers and thunderstorms predicted to roll in post-midnight, mostly after 5am. Charged with an 80% chance of precipitation, the storms could be the bearers of considerable rain, possibly pouring between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, though thunderstorms might generously offer more, according to the National Weather Service.
The NWS cautions that following the break of Wednesday's dawn, showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue, mainly before 8am. The day will likely warm up to a high near 87 degrees amidst a breezy transition from south to west winds in the afternoon. Once again, folks should be prepared for an 80% chance of precipitation. The expected rainfall amounts are forecasted to remain consistent with previous storms, though excitement in the air may mount as isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible.
The latter half of the week appears to be less storm-laden, with mostly clear skies anticipated for Wednesday night and a welcoming low around 61 degrees. Thursday aims to greet residents with sunshine and a notably high near 81 degrees—though it won't shy completely from the small 20% chance of showers post 2pm. Gusts could be as high as 28 mph, reminding to firmly plant anything that could easily take to the wind. Thursday's evening, maintaining that 20% chance of rain before 11 pm, will conclude on a mostly clear note with a low around 55.
Continuing the trend, Friday's forecast promises sunny skies, with the National Weather Service signaling a high near a pleasant 75 degrees. The gift of good weather extends into the weekend, with both Saturday and Sunday slated to be sunny days in the mid-70s. The nights will follow suit, remaining mostly clear as temperatures gently dip into the mid-50s. As Memorial Day approaches, the specter of showers returns with a 30% chance, yet the sun still plans to significantly show itself and grace the holiday with a high near 79.
In their Hazardous Weather Outlook, the National Weather Service issued a heads-up for potential isolated strong to severe thunderstorms on Wednesday, echoing earlier cautions. Residents are reminded to stay alert as "Damaging straight line winds, and large hail will be the primary hazards, but a brief tornado cannot be ruled out." Currently, spotter activation is not expected at this time.
