CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – The final weekend of summer delivered classic late-September heat and humidity to the Carolinas, but significant relief is right around the corner as autumn arrives.
Monday marks what may be the warmest day for the rest of the year. Highs will climb into the low 90s, with heat indices reaching the upper 90s before an unsettled weather pattern takes over.
First Alert: Showers and storms likely
Showers and thunderstorms become likely by late Monday afternoon and continue into the evening and early overnight. While the storms will be scattered, they could become strong to severe.
Damaging wind gusts will be the primary severe threat from the strongest storms, although any storm could produce heavy downpours and dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning.
Monday is just the start of an unsettled pattern that will continue through the first half of Thursday. Off-and-on showers and thunderstorms will continue Tuesday, with more rain Wednesday. Lingering showers will wind down around midday Thursday.
Unsettled weather will linger through midday Thursday, bringing rounds of showers and storms on Tuesday and widespread rain Wednesday. Most areas are forecast to pick up 1.5 to 2 inches of total rainfall this week, with localized totals topping 3 inches where heavier bands stall.
Comfortable start to autumn
Behind the rain, a cooler, much drier air mass will push in late in the week…