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Heavy rain in the Triangle, Level 1 severe weather risk for northern parts of state
A Level 1 risk for severe storms has been issued for northern parts of the state, including the Triangle. The risk went into effect Friday night. The best chance for storms will be from 6 to 10 p.m. A Level 1 risk for storms means that areas highlighted have a chance of seeing damaging winds and heavy rains.
WRAL meteorologist Kat Campell reported heavy rain by the RDU Airport just before 5 p.m. Friday.
But the good news is — after eight straight days of highs in the 90s, Raleigh has a better chance for the relief with the rain.
Stay up to date with all of WRAL’s weather alerts here.
That doesn’t necessarily mean we cool down, though. The heat index, a combination of temperature and humidity that describes how it really feels, will be between 101 and 104 degrees on each of the next four days.
Thursday will have a high around 93 degrees in Raleigh, but it will feel much hotter.
A chance for storms in the evening may cool things down a bit, but not by much, according to WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner.
On Friday, there is about a 20-30% chance for rain, and that goes up to 40% for Saturday and Sunday.
“There is a chance for a few showers and storms late in the day and into the evening hours on Friday,” Gardner said. “Some of the storms could be strong, but they will be likely contained in the counties to the north and east of Raleigh.”
While each day of the weekend could feature afternoon storms and rain, it won’t be a washout, Gardner said. People planning outdoor activities should be prepared for isolated storms.
We can use the rain. Through July 15, Raleigh-Durham International Airport had only measured .82 inches of rain. That is 1.34 inches below normal.
For those hot days we will experience, it is a good idea to limit outdoor activities, including exercise, to morning and nighttime hours. Children and pets should never be left in cars and should have access to shade and water when outside. Check on older neighbors and people who may be in danger of heat exhaustion.
