Raleigh is starting Tuesday under fog and mist before scattered showers and thunderstorms build from late morning into the afternoon. By tonight, rain becomes more likely as a sharp midweek cooldown moves into the Triangle.
Storms Build Through The Afternoon
A slight chance of showers lingers through midmorning, followed by a better chance of thunderstorms from midday through the late afternoon. Highs should reach the lower 80s in the Triangle, while mid-80s are expected mainly across southern North Carolina under mostly cloudy skies. A few stronger storms could bring lightning, brief heavy downpours and gusty winds, according to the National Weather Service in Raleigh.
Rain becomes more likely tonight, with temperatures falling overnight. Rainfall totals are forecast at 0.5 to 1.0 inches generally and 1.0 to 1.5 inches in the Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont during the 24-hour period ending Wednesday morning, creating the potential for slick roads, reduced visibility and localized flooding in spots. Overnight conditions could be hazardous in spots.
Cold Air Takes Over By Wednesday
Once the front moves through, Wednesday turns cloudy, rainy and much cooler, with a high near 70 degrees. Northeast winds of 10 to 14 mph could gust as high as 24 mph, and a chance of light rain continues into Wednesday night.
Thursday stays gray and cool. Conditions improve Friday, and drying may erode stratus. Weekend rain chances will be low, with highs below normal.
The colder, wetter turn is a substantial update from Hoodline’s previous outlook, which focused on Monday’s storms and a midweek cooldown. Raleigh now faces its heaviest rainfall during the 24-hour period ending Wednesday morning before several days that feel more like early fall than late summer.
