Sunshine Returns After Saturday’s Rain — Cooler Air Arrives Tuesday

Saturday’s rain and thunderstorms are giving way to a much quieter weather pattern across Rowan County and the surrounding region.

Some patchy fog developed early Sunday morning thanks to the lingering moisture left behind by Saturday’s rainfall. Once the fog and morning clouds clear, sunshine will become the dominant feature for the remainder of the day.

Temperatures won’t feel particularly fall-like just yet. Rowan County should reach around 89 degrees Sunday afternoon, while Cabarrus County could touch 90. Davie County will also reach around 89, with Davidson County closer to 87.

Sunday night will be quiet and mostly clear, with temperatures generally falling into the upper 60s.

One More Hot Day Monday

Monday will feature abundant sunshine, but temperatures remain several degrees above what we typically expect for the middle of September.

Rowan and Cabarrus counties could reach around 90 degrees, while Davidson County climbs to around 89 and Davie County reaches the upper 80s.

Humidity should be more manageable than what we experienced during the recent stretch of summer heat, and there is currently little indication of meaningful shower or thunderstorm development across the immediate region.

The next weather change arrives from an unusual direction.

Backdoor Cold Front Arrives Monday Night

A backdoor cold front is expected to push south and southwest across the Carolinas late Monday.

Unlike the more familiar cold fronts that approach our area from the west or northwest, a backdoor front moves into the region from the north or northeast.

There doesn't appear to be much moisture or instability available as the front passes, so widespread rain or thunderstorms are not expected with it. Instead, its biggest impact should be a change in the air mass behind it.

High pressure building from the Great Lakes toward the Northeast will help establish an east-to-northeast flow across North Carolina.

Cooler Tuesday — Especially Tuesday Night

The difference becomes noticeable Tuesday.

After highs near 90 degrees Monday, temperatures should only reach the lower to middle 80s Tuesday afternoon:

Rowan County: 84°
Davie County: 83°
Davidson County: 84°
Cabarrus County: 84°

Tuesday night may provide an even better taste of September.

Rowan and Davie counties could fall to around 59 degrees, Davidson County to around 58, and Cabarrus County to around 60.

That will be quite a change from the summerlike temperatures we've experienced recently.

Sunshine Dominates the Week

The quiet pattern continues Wednesday and Thursday.

Sunshine should dominate across the region, with afternoon temperatures gradually recovering into the middle and upper 80s. Nights remain comfortable, generally ranging from the upper 50s to lower 60s.

There is one wrinkle worth watching. Forecast guidance suggests some potential for a weak cold-air-damming setup behind Monday's front. If additional moisture works westward into the Piedmont, Tuesday's temperatures could end up several degrees cooler than currently forecast.

For now, though, the overall message is straightforward: after Saturday’s rain, an extended stretch of quiet weather is ahead.

Enjoy the sunshine Sunday and Monday, because while summer temperatures aren't disappearing completely, Tuesday morning and Tuesday night should provide another reminder that fall is getting closer.

Forecast confidence becomes lower as we approach next weekend, particularly regarding the evolution of the weather pattern near the Southeast coast. I’ll continue watching those trends over the coming days.