Eric Thomas
Chief Meteorologist
Charlotte, NC
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Multiple Emmy Award winner for Weather Broadcasts. Also, have been voted as Charlotte's Best by various publications around Charlotte. American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval. But the biggest honor for me happens every day when someone turns on WBTV and gives me a chance to inform them about upcoming weather. Thank you for that opportunity. I'll do my best never to let you down!!
Our pleasant summertime pattern continues and should extend through the end of the work week.
The best chance of storms Saturday may not appear until very late in the day during the evening or overnight hours.
Overnight, storms become more likely in areas west of I-77, but I’m not forecasting widespread rain and storms.
We hit 73 degrees on Wednesday and may come close to 80 degrees by Friday.
While the chances of rain aren’t zero through the weekend, the next good chance of rain arrives Monday next week along with Tuesday as well.
We have a wonderful weekend on tap with bright skies and plenty of sunshine, but temperatures will remain cooler-than-average.
High clouds will return on Thursday, but overall with highs back in the 50s again.
A Winter Storm Warning is currently in effect for Avery, Ashe, and Watauga counties as 3 to 6 inches of snow is possible above 3,500 feet with 1 to 3 inches of accumulation likely in the lower elevations.
A small batch of light is approaching the Carolinas tonight and will arrive as a light wintry mix in the mountains close to daybreak.
Those clear skies may come back to haunt us overnight as that will allow surface temperatures to cool rapidly.
Normally when we mention snow in our forecast we’re talking about the three or four mountain counties in this area of responsibility.
A White Christmas is on the way for the mountains and the higher elevations of the foothills in Caldwell and Burke counties.
An enormous celestial event is taking place right now with the peak occurring Monday evening shortly after sunset.
As we shake off a chilly, damp, and gloomy Sunday, brighter days are ahead to kick off the holiday week.
It isn’t too early to recap this historic 2020 season. Records were broken all over the place.
Temperatures have generally been running at or above average over the past week, but that’s about to change and just in time for the weekend.
If you have outdoor plans and errands you need to run, I’d suggest you do it Thursday because rain is a better bet again on Friday and that will continue through the weekend.
The second half of the week and the upcoming weekend will experience an unsettled weather pattern with clouds and scattered showers around.
Our next weak cold front is currently located over the Mississippi Valley this weekend and will work it’s way into the Carolinas on Monday increasing our chances for showers and storms to kick off the new work week.
The heavy rain that hit our region on Friday marked the 9th day out of the last 12 days where Charlotte/Mecklenburg took a direct hit from rainfall.
The best chance of encountering the early rainfall is in the western half of our viewing area.
Tropical Depression 13 formed Wednesday night about 850 miles east of the Windward Islands in the Lesser Antilles.
After we enjoyed a break from the severe thunderstorms on Wednesday, strong thunderstorms are likely to make a quick comeback on Thursday and remain a factor through Friday too.
Yet again highs will surge into the mid 90s with plenty of humidity along for the ride.
And to nobody’s surprise, the sultry air mass is kicking off our typical daily complement of afternoon and evening showers and storms.
In terms of rainfall, showers and storms will be a factor Friday, through the weekend and for much of next week.
The forecast isn’t changing anytime soon with more sun, more heat and very little rain until the end of the week.
Tropical Storm Fay developed off the North Carolina Outer Banks Thursday afternoon.
Showers and storms will continue to decay overnight across the WBTV region and Thursday should see a fairly tranquil day in terms of additional showers and storms.
Much like Saturday night, we could see another late-arriving line of thunderstorms again which will spill over into the predawn hours Thursday before exiting quickly and clearing out not only for Thursday, but for the remainder of the week and through the weekend as well.
A potent storm system will roll through the eastern US overnight including the Carolinas bringing along with it heavy rain and thunderstorms.
We’re not forecasting any big storm systems to traipse across the region this week, no washouts, no First Alert Days either.
After four straight days with highs in the 70s, we’ll be lucky to get out of the 50s Saturday with no such luck on Sunday.
Well it appears we skipped right over ‘mild’ on Wednesday and jumped headfirst into ‘warm’ weather as highs soared to 78 degrees here officially here in Charlotte.
With a little extra sunshine on Wednesday we should have no problem jumping into the low and mid 70s and that trend will continue through Friday until a cold front knocks temperatures down around 20 degrees dropping the daytime highs into the mid 50s by late weekend.
We wasted no time this week watching milder weather race back into the region as highs flew up into the upper 60s on Monday.
By the time daybreak hits on Saturday, the sun will be arriving for all of the 22 counties that we cover in western NC. And a stark warming trend is right behind it.
After another sloppy day is in the books, depending on where you live, expect either sunshine or snow to get underway on Friday. Just be careful early, low clouds and patchy dense fog will be likely.
Set your alarm clock a little early Thursday morning as the rain will already be overspreading the greater Charlotte region causing wet roads and slow-downs.
Thursday almost feels like a snow forecast at this point because of my uncertainty.
Heavier periods of rain are a better bet Tuesday with milder air firmly in place a highs will remain in the 60s through Wednesday before we spiral back into the 50s again for the second half of the week.
After several inches of snow accumulated in the mountains last night with bitterly cold wind chills, don’t look now, but a brand new Winter Weather Advisory has just been posted for round two of snowfall heading back into the mountains Friday and Friday night.
Rain will change over to snow overnight across the mountains dropping an inch or so in many areas especially the higher elevations.
After another rainy day on Monday, we dried out on Tuesday but another front arrives Wednesday which may produce yet more showers later in the day, but no washout this time, just scattered light showers.
Skies will thin out some Tuesday afternoon, but another front races in here later Wednesday and Wednesday night.
As we are shaking off the snow from Thursday and now enduring very cold air heading into the weekend, we are already eyeballing warmer and wetter weather heading back our way at the first of next week.