A mild end to 2007, and an arctic blast coming in for mid week!

Good morning, and a good New Year's Eve Day to you. Our past weekend's rainstorm brought about 2" to central North Carolina which was delightful news considering our exceptional drought. We are still over 7" below normal in our yearly precipitation in Raleigh, more than that in other areas, so we need to continue to watch our water useage.

Our 30-year average high for December 31st is 50 degrees. We'll surpass that by almost 10 degrees this afternoon as high pressure dominates our weather for the day.

We'll have just a few clouds overhead as we ring in the new year (lows tonight near 40) and a few more clouds overhead as we approach sunrise January 1st.

A cold front will pass over NC Tuesday, and the mountains will have temperatures drop through the day with a chance of snow showers. We will have some clouds over the rest of the state but the front is expected to pass without any precipitation.

Then, the second punch....a secondary front will usher in much colder air Tuesday night into Wednesday. That might trigger some light flurries over Central North Carolina but the big news will be the temperatures we have for a few days this week!

Wednesday's highs will struggle to reach 40 and Thursday morning will have temperatures near 20 with highs again near 40.

It will be over the weekend before we see overnight lows above freezing and highs above 50.

Best Wishes for a Safe and Happy New Year!

Rain Sunday, Cold Weather to Follow!

Good morning!

It is so nice to see rain on the radar this morning! To the left is the latest drought monitor for North Carolina. 78 of our counties are in exceptional drought (the highest level) which means we are mighty thirsty for rain.

While the rain may be heavy at times, you are well aware that this will not end the drought. We may receive about an inch or 2 with some areas perhaps getting more than that by the time this event ends tonight. Whatever you have been doing to conserve water, please keep doing so.

As we come to the end of the year, it will be pleasant Monday with sunshine and temperatures in the mid 50s.

Tuesday another front comes across the area, and while it is not set to bring any rain, it *will* mark the leading edge of some cold Arctic air. Our highs Wednesday -Friday will be in the chilly 40s and overnight lows will feel quite like January: teens to mid 20s. As far as planning for the coldest morning, that appears to be Thursday with morning lows near 20.

Could See a Good Rain This Weekend

Good Morning!

Our final weekend of 2007 features cloudy skies and a possibility for shower and even a thunderstorm.
saturday starts out with a cold front stalling out over central NC. This will give us not only a temperature contrast from the mid 60s in the Triangle to near 70 for the sandhills and Down East of I-95, but will set up a boundary which will serve as a freeway for other approaching systems Sunday.
We'll have cloudy skies Saturday, a possibility for some sprinkles especially south and east of the Triangle.
Clouds stay with us Saturday night and we see showers move in from the south late overnight, and a couple of waves of rain, heavy at times, during the day Sunday.
Sunday will be cooler with highs in the 50s. Once this system as passed, the rain tallies could be between an inch and an inch and a half on the average. Lets keep our fingers crossed!

High pressure moves in and we see the end of our rain chances for the week. However, we do see a night that will let you put some of your warm clothes to use. Wednesday will see a cold front pass through, and while we do not expect rain for now, we *do* see Wednesday night /Thursday morning temperatures in the teens!

Wednesday's Rains

The rain added up nicely in eastern North Carolina on Wednesday. Locations east of I-95 saw the highest rain totals. Here's a look at some of the rain reports around our area --

• Goldsboro: 2.54"
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 1.63"
• Chapel Hill: 1.15"
• Raleigh-Durham: 0.91"
• Lumberton: 0.77"
• Fayetteville: 0.76"

While yesterday's rains did help put a small dent in our rainfall deficit for 2007, much more rain is still needed. The deficit for the year now stands at 8.78" for RDU and at 25.08" in Lumberton.

We'll stay dry today, but more rain is possible for the weekend. A few showers will be possible late Friday and early Saturday, but the best chance for rain should come on Sunday. Stay tuned to Weather on the Ones on News 14 Carolina for the latest forecasts.

Read more about the current drought conditions across North Carolina on news14.com. Check out some of these recent headlines:

• Rain helps; conservation still needed
• Conserving water at home

Christmas Eve Moon Halo

Our news desk here at News 14 Carolina fielded a lot of phone calls late Christmas Eve night and early Christmas morning about a halo around the moon. You can see that halo in the above photo taken Christmas Eve night outside News 14 Carolina by our master control operator Adam Gross.

High thin clouds moved into our region on Christmas Eve night. Those high, thin clouds are made up of tiny ice crystals. The moon light shining through the ice crystals created

the halo effect that many people reported seeing Monday night.

Merry Christmas!

From all of us in the Weather on the Ones Forecast Center, merry Christmas to you and your family! Thanks for counting on us in 2007 for your latest forecast.

Click here to view holiday photos from News 14 Carolina viewers.

Early Christmas Present

Mother Nature brought North Carolina an early Christmas present on Sunday as a front through the state producing some rain showers. Most locations in our area saw less than a half an inch of rain. Here's a look at some of the rain totals from Sunday --

• Clayton: 0.61"
• Fayetteville: 0.50"
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 0.36"
• Goldsboro: 0.27"
• Lumberton: 0.25"
• Raleigh-Durham: 0.16"
• Henderson-Oxford: 0.11"
• Chapel Hill: 0.09"
• Laurinburg-Maxton: 0.01"

Our next chance for rain looks to come late Christmas night into Wednesday morning as an area of low pressure develops off the Carolina coast. The best chance for rain should come east of Raleigh and Fayetteville. Stay tuned for your latest forecast through the holidays with Weather on the Ones only on News 14 Carolina!

Dreaming of a White Christmas?

If you're dreaming of a White Christmas, you'll have to travel far from North Carolina. The chance for a white Christmas is typically less than 5% in our part of the country and that will not be any different this year. According to date from the State Climate Office there has not been more than a trace of snow at RDU since 1948. In 1966, there was an inch of snow on the ground Christmas Day from a previous snowfall. The coldest Christmas Day was in 1983 when the high only reached 19. The low that day was 4.

Since 1948, Fayetteville has also never recorded more than a trace of snow on Christmas Day. However, on Christmas Day 1989 there was 2 inches of snow on the ground in Fayetteville. That snow was left over from a winter storm that dumped over a foot of snow along the southeast coast of North Carolina.

You can find more Christmas climatology from the State Climate Office of North Carolina by clicking to http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/cronos/whitechristmas/

Keep the umbrella handy this weekend!

Hello there

Cloudy skies are persisting over eastern North Carolina today as an upper level low pressure system crosses to our south. Fortunately, we're able to tap into some of the rain associated with it! Friday's system is expected to bring less than a half inch of rain to most reas of our state, with isolated neighborhoods (especially aroung Fayetteville , Lumberton and southeastern NC)seeing approximately three-quarters of an inch.

Saturday we'll have a change in the upper air weather pattern which will contribute to us warming up a little for the weekend. We'll still have cloudy skies with drizzle or light showers possible saturday, and an approaching cold front sunday will bring another opportunity for measurable rain Sunday.
Highs Saturday are expected to range from the mid to upper 50s in the Triangle and near 60 for the Sandhills and Down East of I-95 (Wilson / Goldsboro areas).

Enjoy the rain and have a good weekend

Pati Darak
Weather on the Ones Meteorologist
News 14 Carolina

Unsettled weather through the holiday

Hello

At this time yesterday, we were talking about a line of showers that crossed the state from morning rush through early afternoon. That weak cold front (with the help of some upper level enhancement) only brought less than one-tenth of an inch to our parched state.
The weekly drought status map will be revised this morning and it may show some improvement as a result of last weekends rain but by no means will it show any significant changes.
We enter a period of some unsettled weather where we will have on-again, off-again changes for a little precipitation. The first chance is Thusrday night as a storm tracks along the gulf coast eastward through Georgia/South Carolina. Much of the rain associated with it will stay to the south and maybe fall also along the NC/SC border. however, its close by, so we cannot rule out the possibilty of some hit-and-miss overnight showers throughout the state through Friday morning.

Next chance for rain is over the weekend. We're watching the forecast maps that are keeping a storm over the Great Lakes area. Its projected to swing a cold front over NC Sunday but there is once again not a lot of moisture set to move in with this. As its still a few days out, we'll continue to monitor this for you.

Tuesday also has a chance of showers, so don't let Santa or his elves move that umbrella on you when they make their visit!

Have a great Thursday.
Pati Darak
Weather on the Ones Meteorologist,
News 14 Carolina

Sprinkles on & off today & Thursday, Rain still possible Saturday/Sunday

Hello

Looks like a couple of days of on and off sprinkles for our area. This morning we have a little weak cold front and a line of very light precipitation move through the area. There had been a brief period of flurries in Charlotte before a changeover to light rain, and it appears that it will just bring some rain sprinkles to the Triangle, Sandhills and areas down east of I-95 this morning and early afternoon.
This system clears out after the evening drive tonight, and we develop mostly clear skies overnight with lows in the lower 30s.
Tomorrow we watch as another storm moves eastward along the Gulf coast, it appears right now (and has been fairly consistent with the weather prediction models) that it will pass to our south late Thursday and early Friday, taking its measurable rain chances with it to our south. We may see some sprinkles, but that looks to be about it once again.

However, there is hope, as over the weekend we'll see a pretty good storm from the Great Lakes sweep a cold front over the east coast, and we could see some measurable rain with that later Saturday into Sunday.
Plans for Monday? You should be okay. We're expecting partly to mostly sunny skies and highs in the mid 50s.

Have a great day!
Pati Darak,
Weather on the Ones Meteorologist,
News 14 Carolina

Coldest morning of the week!

Good morning!


High pressure, clear skies, dry airmass...all added up to a very cold morning!
temperatures in the 20s were far below normal this morning, but not a record.

Our high will shift eastward today, so winds will come in at a light clip from the south. We're also expecting a few clouds later this afternoon and evening from time to time on the backside of this high. Those clouds may help contribute to us having closer to average temperatures as we wake up tomorrow morning (lower 30s).

Wednesday a weak cold front crosses the state but with our dry atmosphere and nothing steering moisture our way, we will not see any rainfall from this. Our main clue of this front's passage will be some clouds overhead.
Not that everyone will be dry Wednesday; there is also a weak disturbance off our coast ( an inverted trough) that will extend northward from Florida and that might trigger a shower along the coast / outer banks early in the day.

Extreme southern NC may see a chance for a shower Thursday as another low skirts along the Gulf Coast, however, again, the models are keeping the rain associated with that system to the south, so Thursday may just be a cloudy day in the southern Sandhills and southeastern NC.

So, rain? Anytime soon?
We look to the weekend for that. A pretty good storm that hit the West Coast for the first part of our week will pull through the Midwest and rotate over the Great Lakes by Monday. A cold front associated with that is expected to swing through NC Sunday, so there's a chance late saturday and into Sunday for a little rain.

Have a good Tuesday.

Pati Darak,
Weather on the Ones Meteorologist,
News 14 Carolina

Winds will subside today, travel weather through Tuesday iffy for Northeast and Northwest U.S.

Good morning!

We have a rather chilly start to the work week, with starting-out temperatures near 30 and wind chills in the 20s. At least winds will subside later today, but a number of people had brief power outages Sunday due to the gusty winds in the area.
Good news is, the storm that brought us the rain over the weekend and the windy weather continues to move northeast. Bad news, if you're travelling to the Northeast over the next couple of days, be prepared for many many delays at the airports for departures and arrivals. Many flights were cancelled or delayed in that area.

If your plans are taking you to the Pacific northwest this week, especially through wednesday, you may also want to check ahead, as a powerful colf front is expected to make its way onshore Tuesday and cause problems from southern Washington state southward to Sacramento.

As for right here at home, expect dry weather for the next few days. We'll see some passing clouds Tuesday, but the weather will remain dry. Our next chance for some showers will be late Thursday.

Have a great day and keep warm!

Pati Darak
Weather on the Ones Meteorologist,
News 14 Carolina

Wind Advisory Sunday into early Monday

Hello, and Happy Sunday!

From record-breaking warm weather, to rain to wind..this has been one interesting week in North Carolina! Most of saturday's rain fell from Fayetteville northward through the Triangle to the Henderson area and eastward to the coast. (see totals from the National weather service at the end of this posting).

The news today...Wind! The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory throughout the day today into early monday morning (about 4am). Sustained winds from the west will be in the range of 20-35mph with gusts that could be as high as 40-50mph. Even though we have highs ranging from 50 to the mid 50s, it will feel colder thanks to those winds.
If you have anything that needs to anchored down outside (even the trash bin could topple, keep that in mind!)make sure its done before you head out today!

Skies will clear later today, and we'll have mostly clear skies tonight. Still windy with lows near 30, and tomorrow our winds diminish and sunshine increases. Highs for the start of your work week will be in the upper 40s.

For a complete look at your Weather on the Ones forecast (including the big travel weekend coming up!) click on our website:
http://news14.com/content/weather/7day_forecast/Default.aspx

Rain totals as of this morning (courtesy National Weather service Raleigh office):

MAX/MIN TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION TABLE FOR NC
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
718 AM EST SUN DEC 16 2007

.B RDU 1216 DH12/TX/TN/PP
:
: HIGH YESTERDAY / LOW PAST 12 HOURS / PCPN PAST 24 HOURS
:
: 24 HR
: ID HIGH LOW PCPN REMARKS
:ASHEVILLE : AVL 46 / 36 / 0.73 :
:CHARLOTTE : CLT 53 / 35 / 1.19 :
:ELIZABETH CITY : ECG 61 / 51 / 1.33 :
:NEW BERN : EWN 56 / 51 / 1.37 :
:FAYETTEVILLE : FAY 51 / 42 / 1.57 :
:GREENSBORO : GSO 47 / 34 / 0.53 :
:HICKORY : HKY 47 / 34 / 0.46 :
:CAPE HATTERAS : HSE 66 / 61 / 1.65 :
:WILMINGTON : ILM 58 / 51 / 1.82 :
:WINSTON-SALEM : INT 47 / M / M :
:LUMBERTON : LBT 56 / 43 / 1.19 :
:BEAUFORT : MRH 70 / 57 / 4.27 :
:RALEIGH-DURHAM : RDU 47 / 35 / 1.19 :
:ROCKY MT-WILSON : RWI 46 / 40 / 1.79 :
:ROANOKE RAPIDS : RZZ 44 / 38 / 0.93 :
:
: T = TRACE / M = MISSING



Have a great Sunday!
Pati Darak,
Meteorologist, News 14 Carolina

Chance for Rain Still Holding for This Weekend

Good Saturday to you

Clouds have moved in for the start of the weekend and to our west, another round of wintry weather passing through the central United States. Winter weather advisories/watches/warnings are in place from Missouri through Illinois, Michigan and Indiana and Ohio through the Northeastern US.
We will have periods of light rain developing into the afternoon, and heavier rain forecast for tonight into tomorrow morning. In addition, there is a possibility for a thunderstorm along and east of I-95 which could bring localized gusty winds. We're expecting about (from west to east through central and eastern NC) an inch to an inch and a quarter from this system. By no means a drought buster but, at this point with the exceptional drought which continues to expand throughout the state, anything is helpful.

Sunday will see clearing by afternoon from west to east as a cold front swings across our state. We'll have had steady to slowly rising temperatures late Saturday night ahead of this front (low to mid 50s Triangle and Sandhills, mid 50s and milder Down East), but after the front passes Sunday morning, our temperatures will drop rather quickly and those gusty winds will create some challenging conditions for instance if you're driving a high-profile vehicle or have outdoor decorations or items that you've not anchored down or stored away for the day. West winds will move in at 20-25 mph with gusts near 40mph.


Monday through mid-week will feature some calmer weather with near seasonable temperatures. For a view of your weather on the Ones 7-day forecast, click on this link:
http://news14.com/content/weather/Default.aspx

And remember, you can see your Weather on the Ones forecast throughout the day and night at News 14!

Have a good Saturday.

Pati Darak
Meteorologist, News 14 Carolina

Wet Saturday, Windy Sunday

Hello there
This is my first posting to the Weather on the Ones blog, and I get to talk about a lot!

First of all, if you have any decorations outside of your home, you may want to anchor them down this evening or first thing saturday, as Sunday looks to be a rather windy day!

Lets start with friday evening. we have a storm system which is coming together over the southern Plains states which will move easteward tonight into saturday.

we'll see clouds building in ahead of this storm on saturday morning, and don't be suprised to see light rain here and there by early saturday afternoon.

Saturday night into Sunday morning are our better chances for some measureable rain. we could see about an inch to some localized areas getting an inch and a half to 2 inches from this system once its all said and done. Rain clears out from west to east sunday, so if you have morning plans in pittsboro, you may be able to leave your umbrella on the car by lunchtime, but if you live downeast of I-95, it may take until the afternoon before the rain ceases.

After the rain, however, comes the wind!

This storm system will rapidly increase in strength as it makes a beeline to the New York and the northeast and in its wake we'll feel it with winds that could be in the 20 mph range and gusts of 35-40 mph! That inflatable snowglobe in the front yard might be taking a trip down your street if you don't watch out.

Whats the encore after that kind of weather? a calmer work week, but a cooler one as well.

Check out your weather on the Ones forecast while you're here at http://www.news14.com/

Have a wonderful weekend!

Taking a Break...

I'm taking a break from the blog for a few days as I enjoy some time off just before the holidays. I'll resume my posts by the end of the month Hope you'l check back then! As always, for your latest forecast, count on Weather on the Ones every 10 minutes only on News 14 Carolina!

Four Straight Records This Week

Temperatures warmed just a little more than expected Thursday afternoon giving us our fourth consecutive day with a record high at the Raleigh-Durham Airport. Yesterday's high of 76 just did break the old record of 75 set in 1956.

Today's record stands at 73 and should be safe in the record books for one more year. Although it will be mild today with temperatures in the 60s, it won't be as warm as earlier this week. The normal high temperature this time of year is around 53.

Cooler and wet weather is on the way this weekend...

Third Straight Record

Wednesday marked the third straight day for breaking record highs at the Raleigh-Durham Airport. Yesterday's high of 79 broke the old record of 74 set in 1996.

It appears that our record breaking streak will come to an end today, but we may get close. The record for December 13 is 75. I'm currently forecasting 71 for a high today. Today's temperatures are a tough call. During the late night and early morning hours we had a "backdoor" front move into the state from the north. That front should lift back to the north as a warm front during the day. That will make for a wide range in temperatures this afternoon. Areas around Fayetteville should easily warm into the mid 70s and some upper 70s are even possible in the Sandhills. The Triangle should get close to 70 or the low 70s while areas near Oxford and Henderson closer to the Virginia border will only see highs in the mid 60s.

It will be somewhat cooler for Friday with highs in the mid 60s. That's still warm compared to the mid 50s that are normal for this time of year!

Cooler weather along with rain is on the way for the weekend. Late Saturday into Saturday night still looks like the best chance for rain that we have seen in some time. Stay tuned for details....

Midwest Ice Storm

Click here for the National Weather Service's recap of this week's Midwest ice storm.

Breaking Records

For the second straight day, we broke the record high in the Triangle on Tuesday. The high of 74 at RDU yesterday broke the old record of 72 set in 1971. Areas to the south of Raleigh were even warmer, but just northeast of the Triangle, a northeasterly component to the wind kept things cooler. Here's a look at the range of high temperatures around the region from Tuesday:

• Southern Pines: 81
• Fayetteville: 80
• Laurinburg-Maxton: 80
• Erwin: 79
• Lumberton: 79
• Smithfield: 79
• Goldsboro: 77
• Chapel Hill: 75
• RDU Airport: 74
• NCSU-Raleigh: 72
• Henderson-Oxford: 68
• Louisburg: 63
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 59
• Roanoke Rapids: 56

Everyone in our area will see warm temperatures today with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. We expect to break another record high today. The record currently stands at 76 at RDU. This should be the last day for setting record highs this week as somewhat cooler weather is expected for the rest of the week.

Look for a wide range in temperatures again tomorrow as a front slips into the northern part of the state Thursday morning. That will keep temperatures in the 50s to near 60 near the Virginia border. The Triangle should see highs in the mid to upper 60s while the Sandhills warm into the mid 70s.

Big changes look to be on the way for the weekend which should include a good chance for rain on Saturday long with much colder temperatures. Stay tuned for details....

Wild December Weather

There's a lot to talk about when it comes to the weather today from record highs to tropical systems to a crippling ice storm!

I'll start here at home where we set yet another record for the year yesterday. The high temperature reached 81 at RDU. That not only broke Monday's old record of 76 set in 1972, it also set a new all time record high for December. Since records have been kept in the Raleigh area, the warmest December temperature was 80 on December 6 and 7, 1998. Records highs for the date were also set yesterday in Charlotte, Greensboro, Wilmington, and Asheville.

And if you thought the 80s in the Carolinas was unusual for December, take a look at this....

That is Subtropical Storm Olga that developed late Monday night near Puerto Rico. The system should move over Hispanola over the next 24 hours where it will weaken to a subtropical depression.The official hurricane season ended on the last day of November, but its not unheard of to have a weak named storm in December. It is unusual though.

Highs in the 80s and tropical system aren't the usual topic of conversation when it comes to the weather in the December. You may think more of winter weather and ice storms. Well, we've got that to talk about too! Just ask the folks in the Midwest.

A major ice storm has taken its toll on folks from Oklahoma to Kansas to Missouri and now in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. I read one report this morning that said one of every three people in Oklahoma were without power this morning. Keep in mind Oklahoma isn't the only state affected.

The wintry weather will continue to spread across the Midwest and across the Great Lakes region today while we have another spring like day in the Carolinas. We will likely shatter record highs here today and tomorrow.

The crazy December weather may not be over with by the end of the week.... A couple of computer models are now hinting at a major storm taking shape this weekend for the east coast.

The above map is a forecast for late Saturday night/early Sunday morning from the GFS model. If this storm does develop, it could bring needed rain our way for Saturday, but it could pose a problem if your traveling toward the northeast late Saturday and Sunday. A lot could and probably will change with this potential system. We'll keep you posted...

Something Brewing in the Tropics?

With temperatures in the 70s today in the Carolinas, it apperas Mother Nature is still trying to hold on to fall weather, at least around here. That may be in the same story in the tropics where the National Hurricane Center is closely watching a disturbance near Puerto Rico. Here's a statement released on the system this morning --

SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT

NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
645 AM EST MON DEC 10 2007

THE BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE CENTERED ABOUT 250 MILES EAST OF PUERTO RICO HAS CHANGED LITTLE IN ORGANIZATION EARLY THIS MORNING. WHILE A CLOSED SURFACE CIRCULATION APPEARS TO BE FORMING...SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES THE SHOWER ACTIVITY IS REMOVED WELL TOTHE NORTH OF THE LOW. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE ONLY MARGINALLY FAVORABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT...BUT A TROPICAL OR SUBTROPICAL CYCLONE COULD STILL FORM DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. REGARDLESS OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT...THIS SYSTEM COULD PRODUCE HEAVY SQUALLS AND GUSTY WINDS ACROSS THE VIRGIN ISLANDS...PUERTO RICO...AND HISPANIOLA TODAY AND TONIGHT AS IT MOVES WESTWARD AT ABOUT 20 MPH. INTERESTS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM.

FURTHER SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NECESSARY. FOR INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...CONSULT STATEMENTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
$$

Record Warmth

What a difference just a few days make! Friday morning, a light wintry mix was causing headaches for some Triangle commuters. Fast forward to Monday morning and we're looking at record high temperatures for the next few days. Afternoon highs should top out in the mid to upper 70s through at least Wednesday.

Here's a look at the records to watch this week:

• Monday: 76 in 1972
• Tuesday: 72 in 1971
• Wednesday: 74 in 1996

Light Wintry Mix Causes a Big Mess

What a morning.... an upper level disturbance that was expected to pass to our north just clipped through North Carolina this morning. The southern end of that disturbance was just enough to produce some light precipitation. Typically, that wouldn't be that big of an issue. Unfortunately, this morning's temperatures were at or just below freezing as that disturbance moved through. That produced light sleet and light freezing rain, and that was enough to create a few slick spots on some area roadways. If you were caught on I-40 in Johnston County, you know those few slick spots caused big problems. You can read more about those problems on news14.com or catch our news updates on News 14 Carolina.

If you have any pictures from this morning's mess, you can send them our way by e-mailing them to weather@news14.com.

A Few Flakes

Were you one of the lucky few to see snow flakes Wednesday? There were some reports of snow flurries around the Triangle and to the north Wednesday morning. RDU recorded a trace of snow making it the first time snow had been seen on December 5th at the airport since weather records have been kept there.

Breezy Monday

Breezy conditions developed across North Carolina Monday afternoon after a cold front swept through the state. Here's a look at peak wind gusts from around the state as reported by the State Climate Office of North Carolina:

• Hendersonville: 54mph
• Boone: 46mph
• Beaufort: 38mph
• Chapel Hill: 37mph
• Wilmington: 37mph
• Roanoke Rapids: 36mph
• Oxford: 35mph
• Hatteras: 32mph
• Lumberton: 32mph
• RDU: 32mph
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 32mph
• Greensboro: 31mph
• Maxton: 31mph
• Southern Pines: 31mph
• Jacksonville: 28mph
• Pope AFB: 28mph
• Burlington: 27mph
• Louisburg: 24mph

A Few Early Morning Showers

A front passing through North Carolina today brought a few early morning showers to the state. Unfortunately, the showers were brief and very light. Rainfall totals ranged anywhere from a trace to 0.05" --

• Chapel Hill: 0.05"
• Goldsboro: 0.05"
• Raleigh: 0.04"
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 0.04"
• Fayetteville: 0.03"

Those very few showers will be the only rain we see for most of the week. We'll turn breezy and colder, drier air moves in behind the front today. In our area, northwest winds at 15 to 25mph are expected with higher gusts. The winds will be even stronger in the North Carolina mountains where a high wind warning is in effect today. In the warning area, sustained winds of 30 to 40mph are forecast with gusts of 50 to 60mph possible.

Our next chance for rain looks to come Friday as another front passes through the region. Unfortunately, the chance for rain with that front are slim at this time. Any rain totals would be very light, similar to what we saw this morning.

Drought Update

The latest drought monitor was released Thursday, and it's no surprise that the exceptional drought continues across the majority of North Carolina. 85 of the 100 counties in the state are under either an extreme or exceptional drought. The outlook is not good with no soaking rains in the forecast over the next week. Our next chance for rain will come late Sunday into Monday, but we should only receive a quarter of an inch of rain or less from that system.

November 2007 will go down as the driest November on record at RDU. The airport has only seen 0.48" of rain this month. That is just under the 0.50" that did stand as the driest November back in 2001.

Not only are we setting a record for a dry November, we are on the way to setting another record. There have only been 81 days with measurable rain in the Triangle this year. The fewest days in a calendar year with measurable rain was 92 in 1969. With only a month left in the year, we could easily break that record.

2007 will not be the driest year ever in the Raleigh, but it could be in the top 5 driest years since records have been kept around Raleigh (since 1887). As of November 30, RDU has measured 31.36" of rain. Here's a look at the 5 driest years on record --

1. 29.93" in 1933
2. 32.09" in 1921
3. 33.71" in 1976
4. 33.92" in 1930
5. 34.43" in 1965

Thanks to the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh for providing the above information on drought records around the Triangle.

19 Years Ago: F4 Tornado in Raleigh

On this date, 19 years ago a rare F4 tornado moved across northern Wake County. Not only are F4 tornadoes rare in North Carolina, this tornado struck in the middle of the night and in the fall. The twister killed 4 people and injured over 157.

You can read more about the storm from the National Weather Service Office Raleigh. Just follow this link -- http://www4.ncsu.edu/~nwsfo/storage/cases/19881128/

Thanks!

If you tuned into News 14 Carolina Thursday, you probably saw our live coverage from the North Carolina Children's Promise Celebration. That is the annual fund raiser for the North Carolina Children's Hospital in Chapel Hill. I spent along part of the day there on Thursday along with many of my colleagues from News 14 Carolina. They have quite a facility there! The special part about the hospital is they have NEVER turned a child or family away from their top-notch medical care. They are able to do that through your support. News 14 Carolina viewers and listeners to the Curtis Media Group radio stations helped to set a new record for the fund raiser. At last count, $780,794 was raised yesterday!!!

You can find out more about the North Carolina Children's Promise by visiting their website at http://www.ncchildrenspromise.org/

Thursday Rain Totals

Here's a look at rain totals from Thursday morning around the area --

• Chapel Hill: 0.45"
• RDU: 0.32"
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 0.23"
• Lumberton: 0.10"
• Fayetteville: 0.09"
• Goldsboro: 0.05"

Everyone knows that much more rain is needed around here. Unfortunately, rain is not in the forecast for the next few days. Our next hope for rain could be Thanksgiving Day. Long range models are showing a front moving through our area then. We'll keep you posted with updates on Weather on the Ones. You can catch your 7-day forecast in our weather updates that air at :21 and :51 after the hour, plus you can see our 7-day forecast anytime on news14.com.

UNC vs. NCSU -- This Time It's About Water

The Wolfpack defeated the Tar Heels on the football field this weekend, but NC State is now issuing a new challenge to their neighbors in Chapel Hill -- conserve water. The two universities will see who can cut their water usage the most between Saturday's football game and when the Wolfpack and Tar Heels meet on the basketball court in February.

Click here to read more about the water usage challenge from news14.com

This challenge is just one reminder to everyone that we still need to do what we can to reduce our water usage during the current drought conditions in North Carolina. Check out our blog post from October 31 for tips on how you can reduce your water usage at home.

Warming Up...

The cold air that kept us chilly this weekend is retreating to the north, and warmer weather is in our forecast throught he middle of the week.

We should have a high near normal (64) today, and then above normal highs are in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday when afternoon temperatures should top out in the mid 70s. A cold front passting through the state late Wednesday night and Thursday morning will bring an end to the brief warm up and temperatures should return to slightly below normal for the end of the week and the weekend. That front may bring a few light showers our way early Thursday morning, but I'm not too optimistic on picking up substatial rain this week.

Some of the computer model runs this morning suggest we could have a wet and chilly start to the week next week. A lot can change between now and then. At one point last week, it looked like the middle of this week could be on the wet side, but that has changed. So, stay tuned...

I'd say it was a pretty good weekend!

Great Saturday for Football!

A cool, crisp fall weekend is coming up for central North Carolina, and there's just something about a cool fall Saturday that is perfect for college football. I sweated through the Clemson-NC State game earlier this season when the high was 90. It felt more like 110 in the stands at Carter-Finley. Saturday's temperatures will be in the 50s for most of the day. And that will be almost perfect weather for the big in-state football rivalry -- State and Carolina.

Sure this is a weather blog, but today I thought I would get a little off topic. At least I tried to tie it in with weather in the above paragraph, right?

This year's match up should be a good one. I don't think anyone will argue with me when I say both State and Carolina got off to disappointing starts this year. Of course, no one really expected championship seasons with both teams in a "building phase" with new coaching staffs. Things are turning around for both teams. NC State is now on a 3 game winning streak.

Now, you'll have to forgive me, I am very biased when it comes to the State-Carolina game. If you happened to catch Weather on the Ones this morning, you may have seen me wearing my red NC State tie. If only Sidney Lowe would have let me borrow his famous red blazer! It probably would not have been a good fit though. Plus a red tie, red blazer, and red hair would be just too much red.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy this cool, crisp fall weekend. I hope to enjoy the nice football weather at Carter-Finley Stadium and hope I enjoy the end results of the game even more. Go Pack!

Drought Update

The National Weather Service Office in Raleigh along with state climatologist Dr. Ryan Boyles and the State Climate Office of North Carolina released an update on drought conditions across North Carolina, and the news isn't all that good.

Fortunately, we saw beneficial rains in late October that led to the rise in water levels in rivers and lakes in the area. We haven't seen any rain since then though, and those water levels are returning to the low flow levels we saw before the soaking rains last month.

Obviously, we need more rain and lots of it. But, just how much do we need? According to the release from the National Weather Service and the State Climate Office, we would need to see 14 to 18 inches of rain over the next 3 months and 25 to 30 inches over the next 3 months to end the exceptional drought conditions in the state. To completely end the drought, we would need to see 24 inches of rain over the next 3 months. Based on climatology, we would expect to see 9 to 11 inches of rain over the next 3 months and 20 to 23 inches over the next 6 months.

Well above normal rainfall is needed through the winter and spring to end our drought, and we aren't likely to see that kind of rain. In fact, the long range forecast continues to call for drier than normal weather through winter. Based on this, we will still very likely be talking about the drought through the winter and into the spring of next year.

Hey, Snow Lovers!

Some of the first lake effect snows of the season have been falling the past the couple of days around the Great Lakes. Here's a look from a webcam at Edinboro University near Erie, Pennsylvania this morning.

It was cold enough for snow here in North Carolina this morning, but with very dry air, of course, we only saw clear skies. We did record some of the coldest temperatures so far this season with some spots dropping into the upper 20s --

• Chapel Hill: 28
• Southern Pines: 28
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 29
• Lumberton: 30
• Raleigh-Durham: 30
• Louisburg: 34
• Goldsboro: 35
• Fayetteville: 36
• Oxford-Henderson: 36

Look for another cold start Thursday morning with most spots near 30. Highs in the 50s are expected through the rest of the week and the weekend.

It's Raining Spiders!

Meteorologists rely on automated weather stations across the country to report weather conditions once an hour. These sites are maintained by the National Weather Service and report conditions such as temperature, dew point, pressure, sky conditions, and others. Since they are automated, they can occaisionally be fooled. A family of spiders seems to have fooled one of these weather stations in San Angelo, Texas. Check out this statement issued yesterday by one of the local National Weather Service offices there....

UPDATE...JUST A QUICK FYI...SPIDERS APPARENTLY AT IT AGAIN...CAUSING THE SJT ASOS TO THINK ITS RAINING. TALKING WITH THE TECHS A FEW WEEKS AGO...THEY NOTED THAT THE SPIDERS INHABITING THE ASOS EQUIPMENTWERE BOTH LARGE IN NUMBER AND UNUSUALLY PERSISTENT THIS YEAR...MORE SO THAN IN ANY YEAR THEY CAN REMEMBER.

Ready for Cold Weather?

Back this summer and even to early fall, I was really wondering when the record breaking heat would ever break. Finally, cooler fall weather is here and we're now looking for some of the coldest weather so far this season coming up by the middle of the week.

Today's high temperature map shows a high of 40 in Minneapolis and highs in the 50s in Chicago and Kansas City. That cooler air will eventually spread to the east. We expect highs only in the mid 50s for Wednesday and Thursday with morning lows near freezing. As of now, Thursday morning looks to be the coldest of the week. Some outlying areas could drop to the upper 20s! We'll keep you posted with the latest with Weather on the Ones.

By the way, the last time we had highs in the 50s was May 7 when the high was 57.

Another Soaking Rain Would Be Nice..

It was one week ago that soaking rains were falling on much of North Carolina. In our part of the state, three to six inches of rain fell from Wednesday through early Saturday.

Those rains helped to put a small dent in the drought conditions across North Carolina. However, with dry weather in the forecast over the next several days, we all still need to do our part to conserve water.

The governor's office sent us these water conservation tips to share with you --

In the Bathroom

• Replace older plumbing fixtures with newer, low-flow models or install water-saving devices, such as faucet aerators.
• Place a water-filled bottle or brick in your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water needed to fill it.
• Put food coloring in your toilet tank and watch if the coloring shows up in the toilet bowl before flushing. If so, replace the leaking flap.
• Check tub and sink faucets for drips and replace washers and “O-rings” as necessary.
• Turn off all water to your home and look at the readout dial on your water meter. If the dial moves, you have a leak.
• Check pipes coming into the house for leaks and have them repaired immediately. Don’t forget to check outside faucets and garden hoses.
• Turn off water while lathering, shampooing, shaving and brushing your teeth.
• Plug the bathtub before turning the water on, and then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
• Take showers instead of baths.
• Time your shower to keep it as short as possible.
• Collect water from the bath/shower while waiting for it to heat up and use it to water plants.

In the Kitchen

• Run washing machines and dishwashers only with full loads to maximize efficiency.
  Avoid using sink disposals for food scraps. Composting food scraps is much more economical than using a garbage disposal.
• Don’t rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, or use a pan of water in the sink and re-use the water as long as possible.
• When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
• When washing dishes by hand, use the least amount of detergent possible. This minimizes rinse water needed.
• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks.
• Don't defrost frozen foods with running water. Either plan ahead by placing frozen items in the refrigerator overnight or defrost them in the microwave.
• Don't let the faucet run while you clean vegetables. Rinse them in a filled sink or pan.

Reuse and recycle

• Catch rainwater from your gutters with a rain barrel and use it to water your flowers and vegetables.
• Collect natural water with a rain barrel for car washing.

Outdoors

• Take time to locate your main water shut-off valve and the water meter in your yard. For instructions on how to read your water meter, go to: http://www.h2ouse.net/resources/meter/index.cfm.
• Use dry cleanup methods to reduce both indoor and outdoor water use.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk.
• Set lawn mower blades one notch higher. Longer grass means less evaporation.
• Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Chunks of bark, peat moss or gravel slow down evaporation.
  

Cold Tuesday Morning

Tuesday started with the coldest temperatures so far this season prompting freeze warnings a frost advisories across North Carolina. Here's a look at today's morning lows --

• Chapel Hill: 30
• Louisburg: 30
• Southern Pines: 30
• Henderson-Oxford: 32
• Raleigh-Durham: 33
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 33
• Smithfield: 34
• Laurinburg: 35
• Fayetteville: 36
• Goldsboro: 36
• Lumberton: 36

This should be the coldest morning of the week as a slight warm up is in store for the next couple of days.

Chilly This Morning; Colder Tuesday Morning

The week is off to a cool start with morning lows in the upper 30s in some spots today --

• Oxford-Henderson: 36
• Louisburg: 37
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 37
• Smithfield: 37
• Raleigh-Durham: 38
• Southern Pines: 39
• Chapel Hill: 40
• Laurinburg-Maxton: 41
• Fayetteville: 42
• Goldsboro: 44
• Lumberton: 44

Tuesday morning will likely be at least a couple degrees cooler than this morning. High pressure over North Carolina will keep skies clear over with light winds. That will bring optimal cooling conditions allowing temperatures to drop to the mid 30s, and many neighborhoods will see their first frost of the season.

Frost can form even if the thermometer measures a temperature above freezing. Most thermometers measure the air temperature a few feet off the ground. On a clear and calm night, the ground can actually cool down very quickly, and the temperature at the ground may be a couple degrees lower than the air a few feet above the ground. So, while our thermometers may read in the mid 30s Tuesday morning, the temperature right at the ground could be around 32 allowing frost to form.

Rainfall Totals

Here's a list of rainfall totals from automated reporting sites and weather spotters around the region for Wednesday through Saturday morning:

• Louisburg: 5.92"
• Cary: 5.43"
• New Hill: 5.29"
• Youngsville: 5.24"
• NCSU Centennial Campus (Raleigh): 5.20"
• Goldsboro: 5.16"
• Durham: 5.05"
• Apex: 4.88"
• Chapel Hill: 4.69"
• Clayton: 4.48"
• Laurinburg: 4.45"
• RDU Airport: 4.36"
• Erwin/Dunn: 4.27"
• Fayetteville: 4.24"
• Spring Lake: 4.20"
• Raeford: 4.02"
• Smithfield: 3.41"
• Hillsborough: 3.34"
• Fayetteville Airport: 3.26"
• Pittsboro: 3.21"
• Wilson: 3.09"
• Rocky Mount-Wilson Aiport: 3.01"

Lots of Rain for Friday

Friday morning is starting off wet, and it looks like a lot more is on the way. As of early Friday, 1 to 3 inches of rain has fallen over central North Carolina. We may add another two inches to those totals today in many spots.

Radar from this morning shows rain from the Carolinas through Florida. All of that is moving to the north and will keep rainy conditions over our part of our state well into the afternoon and evening.



We'll keep you posted with the latest on Weather on the Ones only on News 14 Carolina!

Storm Damage Report from Wednesday's Storms in Franklin County

Here's the National Weather Service's statement on Wednesday's storm damage in Franklin County --

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
345 PM EDT THU OCT 25 2007

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SURVEYED STORM DAMAGE WHICH OCCURRED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...BETWEEN 315 PM AND 330 PM...ABOUT 6 MILES EAST OF LOUISBURG IN FRANKLIN COUNTY. THE DAMAGE WAS DISCONTINUOUS ALONG A TRACK ABOUT 1.7 MILES LONG ROUGHLY PARALLEL TO EDWARD BEST ROAD. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE OR NO DAMAGE TO WELL-BUILT STRUCTURES ALONG THE TRACK...AND THAT DAMAGE WAS MAINLY TO ROOF SHINGLES. THE TRAILER THAT HAD BEEN FLIPPED (THERE WAS ONE MINOR INJURY THAT WAS INCURRED WHEN THE TRAILER FLIPPED) ONTO ITS SIDE WAS MERELY PARKED AND JACKED UP LEVEL IN THE YARD...WITH NO UNDERPINNING OR ANCHORS ATTACHED. A PORTION OF CONCRETE BLOCK WALL ON A CAR WASH WAS TOPPLED...BUT THIS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE FREE-STANDING NATURE OF THE WALLS WHICH ENCLOSE THE STALLS...AS EVEN THE ROOF SUSTAINED NO DAMAGE.

THERE WAS ONE VERY LARGE TREE UPROOTED AND SOME DAMAGE TO LARGER HARDWOODS... BUT THE HEAVIER DAMAGE WAS TO VERY LARGE MATURE OAK TREES THAT HAD BEEN WEAKENED BY NATURAL HOLLOWING AND FURTHER WEAKENED BY BEETLE LARVAE. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF BRADFORD PEAR TREES WHICH INCURRED DAMAGE AS WELL.

THE TREES THAT HAD BEEN TOPPLED HAD FALLEN PARALLEL TO THE STORM TRACK...AND THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE OF ROTATION IN THE VERY LIMITED DEBRIS FIELD. AS SUCH...THE DAMAGE IS ATTRIBUTED TO STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...WHICH ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE REACHED 75 MPH.

Additional Rainfall Reports

Here's a look at additional rainfall reports as of 8am Thursday morning passed along by the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh. These include unofficial reports from automated weather stations and weather spotters.

• Goldsboro: 3.10"
• Garner: 2.72"
• Cary: 2.31"
• Durham: 2.25"
• Henderson: 2.15"
• NCSU Cenntinial Campus: 2.15"
• Knightdale: 1.95"
• New Hill: 1.85"
• RDU Airport: 1.79"
• Rocky Mount-Wilson Airpot: 1.76"
• Apex: 1.70"
• Chapel Hill Airport: 1.68"
• Wilson: 1.60"
• Clayton: 1.59"
• Laurinburg/Maxton: 1.56"
• Holly Springs: 1.31"
• Oxford: 1.28"
• Southern Pines: 1.25"
• Pittsboro: 1.15"
• Louisburg: 1.13"
• Raeford: 1.09"
• Erwin/Dunn: 0.87"
• Fayetteville Airport: 0.55"
• Fayetteville: 0.50"
• Spring Lake: 0.40"

Rain Totals as of Thursday Morning

Here's a look at rainfall since Wednesday across the area --

• Raleigh-Durham: 1.79"
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 1.76"
• Lake Wheeler (Raleigh): 1.67"
• Goldsboro: 0.81"
• Clayton: 0.76"
• Reedy Creek (Raleigh): 0.66"
• Fayetteville: 0.55"
• Lumberton: 0.06"

A few thunderstorms yesterday produced gusty winds. One storm did produce wind damge Wednesday afternoon in Franklin County. According to information from the National Weather Service, law enforcement reported one person was injured near Louisburg when thunderstorm winds turned over a camper trailer.

The threat for strong storms appears to be over. Showers with a few embedded thunderstorms will continue off and on today and tomorrow. The rain should come to an end by early Saturday.

How much rain have you seen in your neighborhood? You can let us know by leaving a comment in the comment section below or send an e-mail to weather@news14.com.

Rainfall Chances Looking Good

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are beginning to move into North Carolina this Wednesday morning and the chances for rain are looking good for the next several days. In fact, this appears to be the best chance for soaking rains we have seen in months. After reviewing the latest weather data this morning, I am fairly confident in saying a lot of our area may see up to two inches of rain between Wednesday and the start of the weekend.

Here's a look at the rainfall forecast across the U.S. --

Today:

Thursday:

Friday:

We'll continue to follow our chances for soaking rains here on our Weather Blog and on News 14 Carolina. Look for updates on rain totals here over the next few days, plus feel free to share rain total reports from your backyard in the comment section or by sending an e-mail to weather@news14.com.

Drought Headlines

Here's a look at some of the latest drought headlines from across the state from news14.com...

• Raleigh gets tougher water restrictions
• Charlotte considers additional water restrictions
• High Point gets water restrictions

Disappointing Rain Totals

A few rain showers the end of last week produced disappointing rain totals across central North Carolina. Most locations saw far less than what was originally expected, and for the most part, the rain did nothing to put a dent in our drought.

Here's a look at rain totals from Thursday and Friday around the region --

• Raleigh (NC State Centennial Campus): 1.03"
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 0.55"
• Erwin: 0.20"
• Fayetteville: 0.16"
• Raleigh-Durham Airport: 0.13"
• Chapel Hill: 0.09"
• Goldsboro: 0.02"

It appears that heavy showers and thunderstorms to our south along the Gulf Coast "robbed" our area of more widespread rains on Friday.

There is a lot of uncertainty in the computer models this week. It does appear we have the chance for a few spotty light showers Tuesday and Wednesday, but those chances aren't all that high right now.

We'll keep you posted with the latest with Weather on the Ones!

Rain in the Forecast

For the first time in quite a while, there's a decent chance to see rain in our area over the next day or two. The chances aren't that great today, but are much higher for Friday.

Ahead of a storm system moving across the country, moisture is streaming into North Carolina from the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. The only problem today is that we don't have a significant weather system to squeeze that moisture out of the atmosphere so we're left with mostly cloudy conditions and nothing more than a few light showers. If you see one of these light showers today, the rain totals should be less than a tenth of an inch.

That will all change Friday as a cold front moves across the state. That will produce showers and thunderstorms during the day across North Carolina. In fact, some of those thunderstorms have the potential to become strong to severe. As of Thursday morning, the Storm Prediction Center has placed our area along with much of the east coast under a "slight risk" for severe thunderstorms.

Most computer models now show the heaviest of the rains and thunderstorms passing through our part of the state during the afternoon hours. Here's a look at forecast from a model run by the State Climate Office of North Carolina.

That same model is also showing up to an inch of rain is possible across much of our region. Heavier thunderstorms may produce even more than that.

While up to an inch of rain would be very welcome around North Carolina, it is important to note that one good rainfall to break the exceptional drought that has developed the last several months. However, it certainly is a start. Stay tuned to News 14 Carolina for Weather on the Ones updates with the latest on the rain chances and the threat for strong storms on Friday.

Another Record Tied

2007 will go down in the weather record books one more time. Wednesday's high of 84 at RDU tied the old record for October 17 set in 1962.

One More Record for the Books

Another record high was set Wednesday when the afternoon temperature reached 88 at RDU. That broke the old record of 86 set in 1997. Our three day streak of setting record highs is over now. Cooler air moving into North Carolina should keep fall like temperatures in our forecast at least through the weekend.

The cooler temperatures are perfect for the State Fair which starts Friday. If you making a trip to the State Fair this year, be sure to stop by the News 14 Carolina and Time Warner booth set up near the Dorton Arena. I'll be there from 1 until 4pm Friday afternoon. Hope to see you there!

More Records

Records were set on both Monday and Tuesday this week at RDU. Monday's high of 93 broke the old record of 87, and Tuesday's high of 94 broke the old record of 88. Tuesday also marked the latest day in the year that a 90 temperature had been recorded at RDU, where weather records have been kept since 1944. Prior to this year, the latest 90 temperature was recorded on October 7.

Those aren't the only records we have to talk about though... Monday and Tuesday now make 83days this year that the temperature has been at 90 or higher. That sets the all time record for Raleigh for the most 90 degree days in a year. Records have been kept at various locations around Raleigh since 1887.

Today's highs in the mid to upper 80s may come close to yet another record. The record for October 10 at RDU is 86.

If you're looking for cooler weather, it's on the way. For Thursday, high temperatures are only expected in the 70s. Finally... some cooler weather, and just in time for the State Fair!

Breaking Records.... Again!

Here it is... October... and it feels more like August. After a record breaking summer, the heat will continue to set records the first of this week. The latest a 90 degree or above temperature has been recorded in the year at RDU is on October 7. We'll break that record both today and Tuesday. We'll also set record highs the next few days.

Here are the records to watch at RDU --

Monday -- 87 in 1990
Tuesday -- 88 in 1990
Wednesday -- 86 in 1997

Highs will likely top out in the low to mid 90s both Monday and Tuesday with the mid 80s possible on Wednesday.

By the way, records have been kept at RDU since 1944.

Exceptional Drought

The drought across central North Carolina has now been upgraded to an "exceptional drought." That is the driest drought classification. The Triangle and parts of the Sandhills are now under this exceptional drought along with Charlotte and parts of the Triad. Prior to this week, only the western most part of the state was under an exceptional drought.


With the warm and dry weather pattern from this summer continuing into the start of the fall, rainfall deficits continue to grow across the state. Some spots are as much as 20 inches below normal for rainfall up to this point in the year. Here's a look at year to date rainfall deficits for select locations in the state --

• Lumberton: -21.09"
• Cape Hatteras: -20.08"
• Wilmington: -19.74"
• Greensboro: -13.40"
• New Bern: -12.76"
• Charlotte: -12.31"
• Asheville: -12.31"
• Raleigh: -8.01"

Unfortunately, the news on the drought likely will not get any better over the next week. While a few scattered showers are possible in North Carolina for the rest of the week, no widespread soaking rains are expected over the next week.

A look at long range information suggests the news won't get any better through the end of the year. A seasonal drought outlook released by the Climate Prediction Center today forecasts the drought conditions across North Carolina to persist through the remainder of the year.

Warm September

The record setting warmth from this summer has continued into the fall. September 2007 will go down in the record books as one of the hottest Septembers on record in the Triangle. At RDU, last month was the second warmest September in the record books. To compare months, we use the monthly average temperature, which was 75.0 last month.

Here's a look at the warmest Septembers recorded at RDU --

1. September 2005 -- 76.0
2. September 2007 -- 75.0
3. September 1980 -- 74.9
4. September 1954 -- 74.9
5. September 1998 -- 74.6

The all time hottest September in the Triangle was in 1921 when the monthly average temperature was 78.5. Weather records were not kept at RDU at that time, since RDU was not built until the 1940s.

90 Degree Days

The number of 90+ degree days has set a new record this year at RDU, and has come close to the all time record for 90+ degree days in the Triangle. There have been 79 days this year when the high reached 90 or higher. The old record at RDU was 72. That was set in 1953. The all time record for 90+ degree days was 82 set in 1941. At that time, weather records were kept at the Raleigh Municipal Airport. Records have been kept in the Raleigh area since 1887.

Thanks to information provided by the National Weather Service Office in Raleigh, here's a look at 90+ degree days this year in cities across the state:

• Lumberton: 80
• Fayetteville: 80
• Raleigh-Durham: 79
• Charlotte: 70
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 69
• Hickory: 67
• Greensboro: 59
• Mount Airy: 45
• Wilmington: 42
• Elizabeth City: 32
• Asheville: 16
• Cape Hatteras: 4
• Boone: 1

School Talks

We can tell school is back in full swing because the school visit calendar is starting to fill up for our meteorologists here at News 14 Carolina. I just made my first school visit of the year to speak with the third graders at North Chatham Elementary School. The students there had been studying about what causes the different seasons of the year. They had a lot of great questions like how to stay during hurricanes and tornadoes.

My next talk has me travelling Tuesday to Rosewood Elementary just outside of Goldsboro to talk with the third and fifth graders there. We're happy to visit schools all across the News 14 Carolina viewing area to share our love for weather! If you're a teacher and would like to schedule a weather talk for your classes, just send an e-mail to weather@news14.com.

Hot Weekend

Fall officially started on Sunday, but it felt more like the middle of summer than the first day of autumn. The high of 92 at RDU was just two degrees away from the record for the date. The low to mid 90s were common Sunday afternoon in many spots --

• Erwin: 97
• Chapel Hill: 94
• Fayetteville: 94
• Laurinburg-Maxton: 94
• Lumberton: 94
• Goldsboro: 93
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 93
• Southern Pines: 93
• Henderson-Oxford: 91

While it won't be quite as hot today, it will certainly come close with highs in the upper 80s to near 90. Afternoon temperatures should finally return to closer to normal levels this coming weekend.

Thursday's Showers

Welcomed showers fell across some spots of central North Carolina on Thursday. The higher amounts were found from Raleigh to the south and east. Here's a look at some of the rain totals:

• Fayetteville: 0.53"
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 0.50"
• Goldsboro (Seymour Johnson AFB): 0.32"
• Raleigh-Durham Airport: 0.31"
• NCSU-Raleigh: 0.18"
• Oxford-Henderson: 0.13"
• Chapel Hill: 0.08"
• Laurinburg-Maxton: 0.03"
• Lumberton: 0.03"

Severe Weather, But Needed Rainfall from Friday

Friday afternoon and evening was a stormy one for parts of central North Carolina. Weather conditions became favorable for thunderstorms to rotate and a few storms did produce weak, short-lived tornadoes. The National Weather Service reproted tornadoes in Wake, Harnett, and Johnston Counties.

The Harnett County tornado was spotted in the River Bluff development off of South River Road just north of Lillington. Numerous trees were knocked down in the area.

Three tornadoes touched down in Johnston County. The first was reported around 6:15 near Clayton Middle School. The same storm that produced that tornado produced another one near the Jordan community. A third tornado was reported north of Benson from the same storm that produced a tornado in Harnett County.

Storm spotters and others also reported a tornado near Lake Benson south of Garner in Wake County. Wind damage was also reported in Fuquay-Varina, but the National Weather Service says that was likely due to straight line winds that could have been in excess of 60mph.

All the tornadoes from Friday evening were estimated to be EF-0 tornadoes on the enhanced Fujita scale with winds between 65 and 85mph.

The good side of the storms was some much needed rainfall. Here's a look at rain totals from around our area Friday night:

• Clayton: 4.78"
• Raleigh-Durham: 1.91"
• Rocky Mount-Wilson: 1.52"
• Fayetteville: 1.26"
• Goldsboro: 1.19"
• Chapel Hill: 1.02"
• Lumberton: 0.68"

Stormy Friday Evening

Much needed rain has been falling over much of North Carolina this afternoon and tonight. Unfortunately, the rain has been accompanied by severe weather. There have been several reports of tornadoes earlier this evening in southern Wake County around Fuquay-Varina and in Johnston County north of Benson. Rain with a few isolated strong storms may continue into the overnight hours as more storms over upstate South Carolina move toward our area.

All of the rain should come to an end by daybreak Saturday morning with pleasant weather ahead through Saturday and Sunday.

Stay with News 14 Carolina for the latest Weather on the Ones updates. If you have severe weather pictures or rainfall reports from your neighborhood to share with us, send us an e-mail anytime to weather@news14.com.

Soaking Rains in the Southeast Today

Finally, part of the country that needs rain is getting the rain today, and that rain is headed our way! Moisture from the remnants of Humberto along with an old frontal boundary are helping to produce today's rains. The rain should spread across our area of North Carolina through the afternoon. Off and on showers should continue into the night. Most of the rain should move to our east by very early Saturday morning leaving us with nice weather for the weekend. Cooler temperatures are on the way too. Lows on Sunday morning should drop to the mid 50s with afternoon highs in the 70s.

Track today's rains every 10 minutes with Weather on the Ones on News 14 Carolina!

Rude Awakening for the Texas Gulf Coast This Morning

Hurricane Humberto surprised some folks along the upper Texas Gulf coast this morning. This system was barely a tropical depression Wednesday morning but quickly became a tropical storm Wednesday afternoon. Just before making landfall along High Island, Texas, it strengthened over the warm Gulf waters into a hurricane. The National Hurricane Center estimated winds up to 85mph in the storm around landfall.

Humberto should continue to weaken through the day today as it spreads heavy rains across Louisiana. It then is expected to bring rain to Mississippi and Alabama tonight and Friday. Those areas are in a drought much like the Carolinas so the rainfall well be welcomed.

The next chance for rain here in our area still looks to come Friday. A front that is stationary to our southeast today should lift to north by tomorrow bringing rain showers off and on through Friday especially in the afternoon and evening. We expect about anywhere from a quarter to three quarters of an inch of rain for our part of the state.