Raleigh starts Monday under mostly sunny skies, but the summerlike warmth will not stick around. The city is headed for a high near 89 before showers and thunderstorms become possible late Monday and a much cooler, wetter pattern settles in by midweek.
Monday Heat Gives Way To Evening Storms
Sunshine should hold through much of the afternoon, with temperatures reaching the upper 80s by midday and peaking near 89. Showers and thunderstorms are possible Monday afternoon and early evening, and a few storms could bring damaging wind gusts, brief heavy downpours and rapidly changing road conditions. More storm activity is expected west of U.S. 1 and closer to the Virginia-North Carolina border.
Monday night brings a chance of showers and thunderstorms, though no active watches, warnings or advisories are listed for Raleigh Monday morning.
Tuesday Brings A Wetter Commute
Showers are possible Tuesday morning, followed by likely rain showers, patchy fog and more thunderstorms later in the day. Locally heavy rainfall is possible Tuesday and Tuesday night.
The forecast is a sharper update to Sunday's Raleigh outlook, with a clearer storm timeline and a more pronounced midweek temperature drop.
Cold Air Sends Temperatures Tumbling
By Wednesday, Raleigh will trade late-summer heat for cloudy skies, a 50% chance of rain and a high near 70. Cool northeast flow will accompany the rain, with rain likely continuing Wednesday night and Thursday as temperatures remain stuck around the upper 60s and low 70s, according to the National Weather Service in Raleigh.
Friday brings mostly cloudy skies with patchy light rain or drizzle, followed by a weekend with below-normal temperatures. The second half of the week will feel more like early fall than the 93-degree start.
