Another round of rain Tuesday

Today - Monday - is quite literally the calm before the storm. After Mecklenburg county morning lows near 30 degrees the clear skies, calm winds, and plentiful sunshine will boost afternoon temperatures into the upper 40s. Then tonight clouds will move in ahead of a rapidly moving low pressure system, which is currently over the southern Plains states.

By dawn Tuesday rain will dampen the ground around the county as this next system moves up the Ohio valley. That track will keep the bulk of the cold air and wintry precipitation west of the Appalachian mountains. Warmer air will invade the local area via southeasterly winds gusting over 30 mph at times. Temperatures tomorrow will climb into the lower 60s.

County rain gauges will collect a fair amount of liquid tomorrow thanks to a very juicy air mass. This NWS Wakefield graphic shows up to two inches possible before the precipitation ends after midnight Tuesday:

Periods of heavy rain may lead to water ponding on roads along with local stream flooding, so be aware when out and about tomorrow. Remember, "Turn Around, Don't Drown" if water is flowing across a road and the road surface isn't visible.

There is also the potential for some severe weather around the dinner hour tomorrow as a sharp cold front punches into the moist air. Mecklenburg is under a Marginal Risk - level 1 out of 5 - for severe storms, with strong straight line winds and even a tornado or two possible. Keep those weather warning sources (NOAA weather radio, local TV/radio, smartphone apps, etc) handy late tomorrow afternoon into the evening hours, and take shelter if warnings are issued.

By sunrise Wednesday skies will clear but winds will still be gusty out of the west. Temperatures will rise into the low 50s that afternoon, near average for the date. Folks can take a deep breath and relax, at least until the next storm system brings another round of rain on Friday!