Good Tuesday morning,
We continue to watch a weather system that originated off the Carolina coastline and has moved into Western North Carolina over the past 24 hours. You can see on the first visible satellite images of the day, a spin in the mid levels of the atmosphere located over Upstate South Carolina and slowly moving west toward the mountains. Some dry air has wrapped into the Charlotte Metro area but easterly winds along Interstate 40 and the Blue Ridge will keep clouds and moisture in place.
Doppler radar estimates has lined up well with the forecast we put in place late Sunday, widespread 1.5 – 3 inch rainfall amounts has occurred area-wide with higher amounts located in those favored upslope regions of Burke, McDowell and Rutherford Counties.
Today’s forecast is straight forward as the feature has stalled out, a slow westerly drift will occur over the next 24 hours. Additional rainfall will now focus itself along the upslope regions as easterly wind flow will veer over to southeast. This will for sure keep the clouds locked in and low-topped showers will form as well. Might be one of those kind of days where the radar does not provide much justice as to what is going on. Once you get away from the mountains and closer to Charlotte Metro, you’ll see a thinning of clouds but i wouldn’t plan on a ton of sunshine today.
This rainfall event is pretty much over in the Piedmont but persistent showers, drizzle and mist could add up for the upslope regions through tomorrow afternoon…
