RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Good morning! Today will be pleasant with low humidity and lots of sunshine thanks to high pressure in place. This high pressure will keep sunny skies in place through midweek. Morning lows will be in the upper 40s to mid 50s. Highs will be in the upper 70s to low 80s.
Clouds will increase later this week from the outflow of the soon-to-be tropical system (Francine) over the Gulf of Mexico.
The system is forecast to move up the Mississippi River into the weekend as it weakens. The low will drag a front from the Gulf Coast to the north, and the moisture extend to the east. Shower will develop over Central NC Friday and through the weekend. Highs Friday will be in the upper 70s. Weekend highs will be in the upper 70s and low 80s, with lows in the 60s.
Tropics-Future Francine: On the forecast track, the disturbance is expected to move just offshore of the northern Gulf Coast of Mexico through Tuesday, and approach the Louisiana and Upper Texas coastline on Wednesday. Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. The disturbance is expected to become a tropical storm today, with more significant intensification forecast to occur on Tuesday. The system is forecast to become a hurricane before it reaches the northwestern U.S. Gulf Coast.
1. Central Tropical Atlantic (Invest 92): An area of low pressure is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the central tropical Atlantic. Environmental conditions appear generally conducive for development during the next few days, and a tropical depression is expected to form while the system meanders over the central tropical Atlantic. By the middle of the week, the system should begin move
westward-northwestward at around 10 mph.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...medium...60 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days...high...70 percent.
2. Eastern and Central Tropical Atlantic: A trough of low pressure located several hundred miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands is producing a broad area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. In a couple of days, this trough is expected to interact with an approaching tropical wave. Thereafter, Environmental conditions appear favorable for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form during the middle to latter part of this week while the system moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days...medium...60 percent.
Some models are picking up on an area of showers and thunderstorms and a potential low developing off of the Southeast coast early next week, so we will continue to monitor these trends in case tropical development appears likely.
Have a great day!
Kweilyn