Warm Early Week; Storms by Midweek?

After a mild February weekend, our temperatures will get even warmer by Tuesday. Highs today should top out in the upper 60s. More sunshine and gusty southwest winds tomorrow should push those highs into the mid 70s. We stand a good chance of either tying or breaking the record high for Tuesday at RDU which currently stands at 74. That was set in 1991.

A big warm up is taking place early this week across much of the Deep South. As a storm system tracks across the southeast, stormy weather is a possibility. In fact, the Storm Prediction Center has placed parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky under a "moderate risk" for severe weather on Tuesday.

That storm system will move to the east on Wednesday bringing a chance for showers and thunderstorms to the Carolinas. While the chance for severe weather isn't as high here, a few storms could become strong with the risk for damaging winds. Because of that, the Storm Prediction Center has placed our area under a "slight risk" for severe weather Wednesday.

The key to the thunderstorm chance on Wednesday in the Carolinas will be the timing of the cold front that is expected to move through. Some of the latest data this morning suggests the front will be a little slower to move through than first expected. This wouldn't bring the front through our area until Wednesday afternoon allowing for more time for temperatures to warm up, and in turn, lead to a higher chance for thunderstorms. Stay tuned...