Derek_James's Blog

As we transition into cooler weather thought you'd like to see where average temperatures will be by the end of the month.

With clear skies and a dry airmass still in place, temperatures on Sunday morning will drop into the mid 30s, especially in rural areas.  For that reason a Frost Advisory is in effect for much of the FOX Charlotte viewing area.  The counties highlighted below in blue are under the advisory from 4am - 8am on Sunday.

A weak area of surface high pressure over the region will hang around tomorrow while high pressure aloft strengthens keeping us sunny and warm with low humidity. Perfect for the Panthers season opener at home. Here's the timeline for the game.

We've already had some light and moderate showers across the area this morning as a cold front moves through bringing cooler temperatures and more opportunities for rain during the rest of this week thanks to several Upper level disturbances.

Today, the best chance of severe weather will be to the southeast of Charlotte. Viewers in Anson & Richmond counties in North Carolina and Lancaster & Chesterfield counties in South Carolina. These storms could contain heavy rain, lightning, gusty winds, and even small hail.

Keep it on FOX Charlotte for updates and you can track the rain down to your door with Hi-Def Doppler here at FOX Charlotte.com.

Below is a map showing today's severe storm potential.

Very hot humid weather continues today after Charlotte's warmest day of the year (we hit 96 in Charlotte on Monday).

High pressure off the southeast coast has been pumping humid air into the region, giving us the fuel to fire off some showers and thunderstorms some of which could reach severe levels.

For that reason the National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the following North Carolina counties until 10:00PM:

Heavy rain, damaging winds, small hail, and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning could be produced by these storms. 

Keep your TV on FOX Charlotte for updates and watch FOX News @ Ten for the latest with Chief Meteorologist Reg Taylor.

We got a break from both the storms and the 90 degree temperatures this afternoon.  Our high temperature at CLT/Douglas International made it to 86…four degrees below average for this date. (Sarcastically) Never fear; the heat & humidity will soon be here!

A cold front is stalling just to our south tonight. Warmer air will overtake it and it will be pushed back to the north as…you guessed it…a warm front. A ridge of high pressure will start to build in on Friday & Saturday, setting us up for sunny, hot and humid conditions. I’m forecasting high temperatures in the mid 90s for both Saturday & Sunday...but it will feel like around 100.

More on your 7 day forecast tonight on FOX News @ Ten.

With a hot humid weekend forecast on tap it's time to talk about the dewpoint again. The dewpoint is often key to how it feels outside during Charlotte's hot days. Here's "Derek's Dewpoint Decoder," an easy way to tell how comfortable or uncomfortable it will be based on dewpoint temperatures.

50-54 Very Comfy

55-59 Comfortable

60-64 A Bit Muggy

65-69 Quite Humid

70+ Opressive

It’s been a wet workweek and the weekend promises more of the same.  The same, tropical South Florida-like air mass will bring more chances for showers & thunderstorms as fronts & shortwves (disturbances) work their way across the Carolinas.

If I had to pick a better forecast day it would easily be Saturday. Charlotte will be looking at a few scattered afternoon storms with areas to the south and east having the best chance for storms (especially South Carolina).  Sunday is the day that storms will most likely be widespread and possibly severe as another cold front slides into the region. Storms will be likely to pop up anytime in the afternoon.

I’m forecasting 88 for Saturday’s high and 84 on Sunday.

Your full 7 day forecast tonight on FOX News @ Ten.

Saturday was beautiful with low humidity and temperatures five degrees below normal (Average High is 90). 

High Pressure building in from the Ohio valley will lead to another beautiful cooler than average day tomorrow.  It will also give us the chance to break the record for cool weather on Sunday.  The record low in Charlotte for Sunday is 61…I’m forecasting 60.  The only thing that could really keep us from dropping that far would be a few clouds hanging around. In the afternoon expect mostly sunny conditions and highs of 83-85.  Atlantic moisture moving in will give us chances for scattered showers and thunderstorms much of next week...which is good considering all of our rain this month has basically fallen over two days.

Your full 7 day forecast tonight on FOX News @ Ten.

With high pressure over the mid Atlantic and a weak cold front approaching from the northwest, I’m forecasting a slightly better chance of a shower or storm developing on Sunday.  You’ll also notice increases in both the temperature and the humidity. Tomorrow’s highs will be near 90. The front is expect to stall to our north and we’ll be looking at a wider coverage of storms on Monday especially during the afternoon with a high in the mid 90s. Storms on both Sunday & Monday after the potential of producing heavy downpours, gusty winds & hail.

Some of the computer models are showing dewpoints into the 70s for Thursday & Friday of this week, which is downright nasty.  We’ll continue to keep and eye on that.

Your full 7 day forecast tonight on FOX News @ Ten.

Hope your enjoying the low humidity we're experiencing right now because the reality of heat AND humidity will come back into play this weekend.  A weak cold front came through today sparking a stray storm or two.  High pressure will build in behind for tomorrow & Friday.  The front will then lift north as a warm front on Saturday bring humid conditions back and possibly a few showers & thunderstorms. 

Updated 7 Day forecast tonight on FOX News @ Ten.

Derek

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 11pm for the following counties in our viewing area.

• In North Carolina: Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Richmond, Stanly       

• In South Carolina: Chester, Chesterfield, Lancaster, York

Storms this afternoon & evening will be isolated across our area but still have the potential to produce hail & gusty winds. 

As of 6pm, most of the storms are across Upstate South Carolina.  Anderson, Abbeville & Greenwood counties in SC are currently under Severe Thunderstorms Warnings.

Your full forecast tonight on FOX News @ Ten.

Saturday afternoon highs across the FOX Charlotte viewing area ranged from the low to mid 90s mainly because of high cirrus clouds.  It was our first 90 degree day of the year in Charlotte.

The computer models have done a poor job of handling this first run of hot weather, often by more than 5 degrees.  I've been backing off from those numbers the last couple of days.  While the models wanted to forecast a 98 degree day on Saturday, I went for 95 in charlotte.  Unofficially Charlotte made it to 94...so I was pretty close. But it did feel like 99-102 when you factor in the high humidity.

Father's Day promises to be slightly cooler and slightly less humid. I expect 90-92 for the Charlotte metro area on Sunday and it should feel like 93-96.  We'll have a nice northwest breeze in the afternoon that will make it feel less oppressive. It appears we're going to stay in a dry pattern here for at least the next couple of days with highs near 90.

Have a great Father's Day!

Derek

WELCOME to the new FOXCharlotte.com!

I hope you enjoy our new webpage.  We are currently working to make major additions to the weather page which I think you will enjoy. If you have any weather questions please post them and I will answer them here. 

Here's what's going on with our weather has we head into Father's Day weekend.

I know this may surprise you, but Charlotte has yet to record a 90 degree day this year.  Many of the LED displays on area banks were showing temperatures in the 90s today, but the actual high temperature on Friday (the 19th) was 89 at our official reporting station, Charlotte Douglas International Airport. It did feel like it was in the mid 90s with the humidity though as dewpoints reached the 70s which is OPRESSIVE on  "Derek's Dewpoint Decoder."

As high pressure continues to build in over the south, I expect temps to reach the mid 90s on Saturday (the 20th). It could feel like the triple digits over a good junk of the area. Saturday should be the hottest day we experience for a while.  I'm forecasting Sunday to be a few degrees cooler but again with plenty of sunshine. You can scroll back up on this page to see my full 7 day forecast.

On a non-weather note, my son who is ten and a half months old took his first steps this week, just in time for my first Father's Day.

Derek

(A Very Proud Papa)