The National Weather Service in Raleigh warns of a potential parade of precipitation and storms sweeping through much of central North Carolina. As we look ahead, scattered showers and thunderstorms are predicted to punctuate the week, with the mercury flirting with the high 80s and low 90s.
For today, the skies over Raleigh suggest a 30% chance of rain, mainly manifesting post-4pm, under partly sunny conditions and a comforting high near 89 degrees, as reported by the NWS Raleigh forecast. Its gentle southwest breath at 6 mph will not be enough to stave off the evening's 50% chance of precipitation before bedtime. Tonight's low will hug a mild 72 degrees, while sporadic storms could result in rainfall amounts modestly exceeding a tenth of an inch.
Looking towards Sunday, a foreboding 90% chance of precipitation bears down after 2pm, ushering in showers and potentially a thunderstorm; the high will again approach a balmy 89 degrees. This pattern of atmospheric activity is poised to persist into the work week, with chances of showers and storms remaining prevalent and highs consistently in the upper echelons of the 80s.
The outlook for the week isn't all about the potential wrath of the heavens. According to the NWS Hazardous Weather Outlook, "There is a marginal risk (level 1 of 4) of flash flooding this afternoon and evening." The concern is primarily about urban and small stream floods in the face of stubborn showers and thunderstorms. The coming days may elevate this risk, especially over the northern regions of North Carolina.
For those more concerned about the possibility of severe weather than getting wet, Sunday holds a level 1 of 5 marginal risk for severe thunderstorms along and north of US-64. The threat is principally posed by "a few strong to locally damaging wind gusts," which could cause sporadic power outages or fallen trees, unpredictable and sometimes set ablaze like embers in the wind, as detailed by the NWS Hazardous Weather Outlook.
