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FORECAST: Flooding potential increases Sunday through midweek
A cooler and wetter pattern is underway as a front stalls nearby along with tropical moisture through midweek. Localized flooding will be a threat for the region.
WCNC Staff, Brad Panovich, Chris Mulcahy, Brittany Van Voorhees (WCNC), KJ Jacobs, Larry Sprinkle
12:41 PM EST March 6, 2019
10:15 AM EDT August 15, 2021
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rainy Pattern Ensues
Today marks the beginning of a rainy pattern across the Carolinas due to a stalled front and tropical moisture. We’ll start off Sunday with a mix of clouds and sunshine before turning cloudy and rainy off and on through the afternoon and evening. Highs will only peak in the mid-upper 80s.
Heavy rain will allow for localized flooding due to saturated grounds from Saturday’s storm and additional rainfall this week. By the end of the week, 4 – 8 inches of rain are possible for the mountains and the foothills. 2 – 4 inches are possible for portions of the Piedmont and Metro Charlotte. Most of the South Carolina Piedmont and the Sandhills will see closer to 1 – 2 inches.
Midweek, whatever is left of Fred could add more tropical moisture to our already muggy air mass. This could cause a more widespread risk of flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas and portions of the western North Carolina foothills and mountains, where a risk of mudslides exists.
Late this week, high pressure builds back in, prompting warmer air and typical afternoon scattered showers and storms. Highs will go from the low 80s to near 90° next weekend.
The Tropics
As of 8:40 a.m. Sunday, Hurricane Hunters have found that Fred has regained tropical storm status in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. Maximum sustained wind remains at 40 mph with gusts near 50 mph. The center is located about 390 miles south-southeast of Pensacola, Florida.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Alabama/Florida border to Ochlockonee, Florida. Additional tropical storm warnings are expected later today. Landfall is expected across the northern Gulf Coast by Monday night or Tuesday morning, likely near western Florida panhandle or coastal Alabama.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic:
Tropical Storm Grace formed yesterday and has weakened slightly as it moves over the eastern Caribbean Islands. The disorganized system has maximum sustained wind of 40 mph.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in place for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The latest track from the NHC has Grace near or offshore the southwest Florida coast by mid-late week. There’s still a lot of time to watch this system.
We are monitoring another small area of low pressure about 200 miles north-northeast of Bermuda. Some development is possible over the next couple of days as the system drifts slowly southward.
However, by Tuesday, environmental conditions are expected to become hostile for formation. It has a low chance (30%) over the next five days.