Scattered showers and storms this weekend

We started out with abundant sunshine in NC this weekend, however an approaching cold front will mean an increase in clouds and a chance for hit and miss showers and storms. While we're not expecting severe weather, if thunderstorms do form we could see the possibility of thunderstorms producing small hail and/or gusty winds. The front will cross the state later tonight into Sunday morning, so keep an umbrella handy! There will be a better possibility of showers wilth measureable rain in the NE part of our state Sunday.

An upper level low will approach Sunday, which means a better chance that storms could produce hail. So far the storm prediction center has not placed any risk of severe storms forming. That means if hail forms, it should be less than 3/4" in diameter. We could also see gusty winds if storms form. Otherwise, our weather Sunday will feature variable clouds and widely scattered showers.

Yesterday was our first code orange ozone day in NC, which meant our first ozone action day. According to the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources ; Division of Air Quality, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently revised the ozone air quality standards based on new health information that demonstrates adverse health impacts at lower concentrations of ozone than previously thought. Consequently, the Air Quality Index (AQI) and the air quality forecasts have been adjusted to reflect the revised ozone standard. Air Quality Action Days (Code Orange and Red) are now at least twice as likely to occur in North Carolina than during the past several years. They ask that you please understand that the air quality in North Carolina has not suddenly deteriorated; rather, the air quality forecasts are more protective of public health based on the new health studies and revised national standards.

For more information, please see their website (which includes daily ozone forecasts): http://daq.state.nc.us/Ozone/

Have a great Weekend!

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