From Fall Back to Summer? Upper 80s Return to the Region This Week

The calendar is about to turn to October, but Mother Nature apparently isn’t quite ready to put summer temperatures away.

After a stretch of cool mornings and comfortable afternoons across Rowan, Davie, Davidson and Cabarrus counties, temperatures will begin climbing again this week. By Wednesday and Thursday, parts of the region will be back into the mid to upper 80s.

That is quite a change from the fall-like weather we experienced just a few days ago.

A Beautiful Sunday First

Before the warmer air arrives, Sunday will offer another fantastic early-fall day across the region.

High temperatures will range from the mid to upper 70s under plenty of sunshine. Tonight will turn cool again, with most locations falling into the lower to mid-50s.

Monday won't be much different. Sunshine continues with afternoon temperatures generally in the upper 70s.

After that, however, the thermometer starts moving upward.

The Warm-Up Begins Tuesday

Tuesday marks the beginning of the more noticeable warming trend.

Highs should reach around 80° to 82° across the region before climbing another few degrees Wednesday.

By Wednesday afternoon, temperatures are expected to reach the mid-80s in many locations.

Thursday could be the warmest day of the stretch.

Current forecasts call for highs around:

Rowan County: 87°
Davie County: 86°
Davidson County: 86°
Cabarrus County: 87°

Those temperatures will make it feel considerably more like late summer than the beginning of October.

Why Is It Getting So Warm Again?

The change comes from a shift in the weather pattern above us.

Northwesterly flow has been helping deliver the cooler and drier air we've enjoyed this weekend. As we move farther into the week, that pattern changes as an upper-level ridge builds across the Southeast.

Ridges are generally associated with sinking air, plenty of sunshine and warmer temperatures.

With very little cloud cover expected and no significant push of cooler air arriving during the workweek, temperatures will have plenty of opportunity to climb each afternoon.

That doesn't mean the cool mornings disappear immediately.

Tonight will still be chilly by recent standards, and Monday morning will start cool. But nighttime temperatures will gradually increase as the week progresses. By Wednesday and Thursday nights, many locations will remain around 60° or warmer.

At Least the Humidity Isn't Immediately Returning

One important difference between this warm spell and what we experienced during the heart of summer is the amount of moisture in the atmosphere.

The air mass remains relatively dry through the first part of the week. That should keep the warmer afternoons from feeling quite as oppressive as an 85° to 87° day would during July or August.

So while the thermometer may look like summer again, it shouldn't necessarily feel like the middle of summer.

What About Rain?

There isn't much to talk about during the workweek.

High pressure should keep Rowan, Davie, Davidson and Cabarrus counties dry through at least Thursday.

There is more uncertainty beginning Friday. Some forecast guidance starts bringing moisture back into the region while other guidance remains dry.

Confidence increases as we move into next weekend, when a developing weather system could eventually bring showers back to the Carolinas.

Exactly when that rain arrives — and how much falls — remains uncertain this far out.

Fall Isn't Gone

Seeing temperatures approaching the upper 80s in early October may make it seem like fall has disappeared again, but swings like this are part of the transition between seasons.

Cooler air can arrive for several days only to be replaced by another warm stretch.

This week will be a good example.

We'll begin with cool mornings and comfortable afternoons, then steadily warm until parts of the region are pushing the upper 80s by Thursday.

Enjoy those open windows while you can. The air conditioner may be getting another turn before the week is over.