Summer Isn’t Finished Yet — 90s Return to the Region This Week

If Tuesday morning’s cooler temperatures have you thinking fall is taking over, don’t get too comfortable. Summer isn’t finished with the Carolinas just yet.

A backdoor cold front has brought a brief break from the recent late-summer heat across the region. High temperatures Tuesday will generally remain in the middle 80s, followed by a comfortable night with temperatures falling into the upper 50s and lower 60s.

The cooler air won’t stick around for long.

Temperatures Climb Again

Sunshine returns Wednesday as temperatures begin their climb.

Rowan County is expected to reach around 88 degrees Wednesday, 90 Thursday and 93 Friday.

Davie County will reach around 87 Wednesday, 90 Thursday and 92 Friday.

Davidson County climbs from around 87 Wednesday to 90 Thursday before reaching 93 Friday.

Cabarrus County will reach around 87 Wednesday, 89 Thursday and 93 Friday.

That makes Friday the hottest day of the current forecast period for much of the region.

While temperatures in the lower 90s certainly aren’t unheard of during September, they’ll provide another reminder that meteorological fall doesn’t necessarily mean summer weather immediately disappears from the Carolinas.

Comfortable Nights Before the Heat Builds

Before temperatures climb, Tuesday night should provide some excellent late-summer weather.

Forecast lows range from around 58 degrees in Davidson County to around 61 in Cabarrus County. Rowan and Davie counties should fall to around 60.

Wednesday night will be similarly comfortable before overnight temperatures gradually increase later in the week.

Mostly Dry Through the Workweek

Most of the region should remain dry through the workweek.

Rowan, Davidson and Cabarrus counties currently have no rain in their forecasts through Friday night.

Davie County is the exception, with a 30 percent chance of a shower developing after 5 PM Friday and continuing into the early evening.

Otherwise, sunshine will dominate much of the week.

Changes Could Arrive This Weekend

Saturday currently looks mostly sunny across the region, with highs generally in the upper 80s.

But changes may begin taking shape as we move deeper into the weekend.

The overall weather pattern is expected to become increasingly favorable for showers and thunderstorms as moisture begins returning to the Carolinas.

At this point, there is no indication that the weekend will be a washout. Rain chances will need to be refined as we get closer.

Watching Next Week

The more interesting part of the forecast may come early next week.

Forecast guidance indicates an area of mid-level low pressure could move westward across Florida before potentially slowing or stalling near the northern Gulf Coast.

Exactly where that system goes and how it evolves remains uncertain.

What appears more likely is an increase in moisture flowing into the Carolinas from the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico. That would support higher rain chances across the region by early next week.

There are also early indications that the potential for heavier rainfall could increase.

It is much too early to talk about rainfall amounts or exactly where the heaviest rain could occur. Those details will depend heavily on how the developing weather pattern evolves over the next several days.

The Bottom Line

Enjoy the more seasonable temperatures Tuesday and the comfortable temperatures Tuesday night because the late-summer heat is coming back.

Highs climb toward 90 degrees Thursday before reaching the lower 90s across much of the region Friday.

Saturday remains warm, with temperatures generally in the upper 80s.

After that, attention turns toward increasing moisture and the possibility of more showers and thunderstorms later in the weekend and into early next week.

Summer isn’t finished yet, but signs of a potentially wetter pattern are beginning to appear on the horizon.

I’ll continue tracking the pattern and provide updates as confidence increases.