Tropical Update -- Friday Midday

Clouds are rolling into southeastern North Carolina along with some bands of showers ahead of the area of low pressure off the Georgia and South Carolina coast. Here's the latest midday statement from the National Hurricane Center on the tropics --

SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1125 AM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

THIS STATEMENT CONCERNS TWO TROPICAL WEATHER SYSTEMS.

SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE THAT THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE LOCATED IN THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN SEA ABOUT 400 MILES SOUTHEAST OF JAMAICA CONTINUES TO BECOME BETTER-ORGANIZED. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE UNIT RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THIS SYSTEM THIS AFTERNOON TO DETERMINE IF A TROPICAL DEPRESSION OR TROPICAL STORM HAS FORMED. ALL INTERESTS IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM AS IT MOVES WESTWARD AT 15-20 MPH. FOR INFORMATION SPECIFICT O YOUR AREA...PLEASE CONSULT STATEMENTS FROM YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

SURFACE OBSERVATIONS AND SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE THAT A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM LOCATED JUST OFF THE COASTS OF GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA IS ALSO BECOMING BETTER ORGANIZED. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE CONDUCIVE FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT...AND A TROPICAL DEPRESSION COULD FORM TODAY OR TOMORROW. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THIS SYSTEM TOMORROW...IF NECESSARY. ALL INTERESTS ALONG THE COASTS OF GEORGIA...SOUTH CAROLINA...AND NORTH CAROLINA SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS THIS SYSTEM MOVES SLOWLY NORTHEASTWARD NEAR THE COAST. FOR INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE CONSULT STATEMENTS FROM YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.

$$

FORECASTER BLAKE/KNABB

Stay tuned to News 14 Carolina and Weather on the Ones for the latest....

Possible Tropical Development off the Coast?

This week we've been talking a lot about an area of low pressure that could impact our weekend weather. Earlier in the week, it appeared that low may track inland over our area or just to our west bringing us a pretty good chance for rain. It now appears the low will stay just off the coast keeping rain chances higher right along the coast. We still may see some rain from the low around here, but the higher rain chances will come the farther east you go in the state.

With the low staying just off the coast, there is some possibility that it could develop into a tropical system later today or Saturday. Water temperatures in the low to mid 80s would certainly favor some development.

For more on this coastal low, our weekend forecast, and other features to watch in the tropics, check out this morning's video blog update posted below.

Weekend Rain Chances

We're watching an area of low pressure just off the northeast Florida coast this morning that looks to eventually bring us some showers and storms for the start of the weekend. Check out this morning's video blog update posted below for more information...

Latest on the Tropics and Rains Chances into the Weekend

There are a couple of systems to watch in the tropics today. We're also keeping tabs on our increased rain chances for the end of the week and the start of the weekend. Find our more in this morning's video blog update posted below:

Tuesday Morning Update

The front that produced yesterday's rain has now stalled across eastern North Carolina. That should keep this afternoon's storm chances east of Raleigh. The heaviest rain totals from the front on Monday fell across the Triangle. Here's a look at rain totals from around the region --

• Raleigh-Durham: 0.53"
• Raleigh (NCSU): 0.52"
• Chapel Hill: 0.16"
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 0.14"
• Goldsboro: 0.02"
• Fayetteville: Trace

Outside of our local weather, we continue keep tabs on Bertha that is now moving away from Bermuda. Another disturbance that had first look like it could become a tropical depression is moving toward an area that may not be so favorable for tropical development.

For more, check out this morning's video blog update, posted below.

Monday.... Watching the Tropics

There are a couple of areas to watching in the tropics.... Tropical Storm Bertha located close to Bermuda and another area of disturbed weather between Africa and the Windward Islands that couple become our next tropical depression. Check out this morning's video blog update posted below for more...

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Wednesday Storm Pictures

Storm clouds and gusty winds in northern Wake County.

Durham storm clouds.

Lightning shot from Durham.

Storm clouds over the fairgrounds. Photo from Jim Penny.

Lightning shots over Lake Crabtree from Michelle Vassar.

Storm clouds over the Wakefield area of Wake County. Photo from Marlin Bohling.

Raleigh storm clouds. Photo taken near Capital Blvd and I-540.

Storm clouds with lightning over Morrisville.

Storm clouds over Wake Forest.

Storm clouds roll into Holly Springs.

Rain over west Raleigh. Photo from Jim Penny.

Fuquay-Varina storm clouds photo from Lewis Dadisman.

Holly Springs lightning photo from Mark Woods.

Storm clouds over northeast Raleigh. Photo from Mike Ivicic

Storm clouds over Hedingham in Raleigh.

Apex lightning photo from Carrie Fleitz.

Clayton storm clouds photo from Hannah Stallings.

Johnston County storm clouds. Photos from Jay Deming.

Storm clouds over Clayton. Photo submitted by Joe Pessolano.

Storm clouds over Pembroke. Photo submitted by James and Amanda Hunt.

Tuesday Storm Pictures

Storm clouds south of Fuquay-Varina. Photo submitted by Petra Glorie.

Storm clouds developing near Apex.

Storm clouds over western Cumberland County. Photo submitted by Shannon Lewis.

Storm clouds over western Wake County. Photo taken near I-440 and Western Blvd. Photo submitted by Jim Penny.

Storm clouds over Cumberland County. Photo taken 2 miles southeast of 401 and 295. Photo submitted by Gretchen and Shane Spradling.

Morrisville storm clouds.

Storm clouds over Cary.

Thunderstorm developing over Fayetteville.

Storm clouds developing over southern Granville County. Photos submitted by Christie Moore.

Storm clouds approaching Cary. Photo taken from Ten Ten and Kildaire Farm Roads.

Storm clouds over Hope Mills. Photo submitted by Eileen Nunez.

Storm clouds over Eagle Ridge near south Garner. Photo submitted by Eddie Rider.

Lightning lights up the sky in southern Cumberland County Tuesday evening.

Storm clouds over Fayetteville near Raeford and Cliffdale Roads. Photos submitted by Angel Shaffer.

Storm clouds over Holly Springs.

Storm clouds over Seven Lakes.

Tuesday evening storm clouds over northwestern Johnston County. Photo submitted by Reilly.