Forecast Last Updated at Friday, July 3, 2020 at 6:43AM

Warming to the Fourth

Warmer, drier air holds through the Fourth of July. While the vast majority of the region is rain-free, a spot like Grandfather Mtn (high elevation along the Blue Ridge) could pop a brief shower this afternoon. Then chances are one tick higher Saturday afternoon. Sunday is somewhat more humid sparking widely scattered afternoon thundershowers.

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Friday Hi: 82 Lo: 59 Scattered afternoon clouds; Warmer; Light, variable wind

Saturday Hi: 83 Lo: 60 Partly cloudy; Cannot completely rule out an afternoon t-shower; Light, variable wind

Sunday Hi: 80 Lo: 60 Scattered clouds; Widely scattered PM t-showers; South wind 5-10 mph

Monday Hi: 78 Lo: 60 Partly to mostly cloudy; Isolated PM t-showers

Tuesday Hi: 73 Lo: 60 Mostly cloudy; Widely scattered showers and thundershowers

Further Out

Wednesday - Generally cloudy; Scattered showers and thundershowers, ending during the evening; High in the mid 70s; Low in the upper 50s
Thursday - Scattered clouds; Warmer; Cannot completely rule out an afternoon t-shower; High in the lower 80s; Low in the lower 60s

Forecast Discussion

A frontal boundary, that was near us for the middle of this week, now stretches from Southern Georgia to Arkansas. Also, high pressure centered in the Great Lakes is edging toward the Central Appalachians. The result is more sun, warmer daytime temperatures, and mostly dry weather. Today, a stray afternoon shower is limited to higher along the Blue Ridge, Saturday has "a smidge" more coverage, and Sunday has widely scattered coverage. Monday, coverage of afternoon thundershowers drops back to "isolated". Plenty of folks will get through the holiday weekend without rain.

Tuesday through Thursday, the front edges back to the north and low pressure moves from southwest to northeast along the boundary. That feature increases shower/thundershower coverage to "widely scattered" Tuesday (more south than north) and then "scattered" Wednesday. While the timeframe focus both days will be afternoons, showers or thundershowers will be possible earlier in the day and Tuesday night.

By Thursday, the low will be farther to the east resulting in a return of warmer, drier weather. Next weekend looks to be warmer than this weekend.

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