After an extended dry period with plenty of autumn sunshine Mecklenburg County is facing several days of clouds, cooler temperatures, and rain. Today - Sunday - began under cloudy skies with temperatures in the low 40s around the area. There could be a couple peeks of sunshine later today, but the overcast will generally hold fast. Afternoon highs will top out in the low 60s, which is likely to be the warmest temperature all week.
High pressure centered over eastern Canada through midweek will force cool moist air southward along the Piedmont for a typical cold air damming wedge setup. That feature itself will keep clouds and cool air around for a couple of days. The clouds and moisture will be reinforced by a low pressure center sliding eastward along the Gulf states. It'll take a while for the dry air locally to moisten enough for precipitation to reach the surface, but by Monday evening most county locales will see rain.
The rain will stick around most of the week as another low pressure system develops over the Ohio Valley and moves across the Mid-Atlantic. Local temperatures under the clouds will range from morning lows in the 40s to afternoon highs in the mid- and upper 50s. Those daily highs will be about ten degrees below late October averages.
At this point the skies look to clear for Friday, so Halloween trick-or-treaters shouldn't have to deal with rain gear. Meanwhile, a very dangerous situation is unfolding in the Caribbean as powerful Hurricane Melissa has already reached Category 4 status this morning. Astounding rainfall totals are forecast for Jamaica and surrounding islands, with feet of rain (not inches!) expected. Fortunately for the U.S. this storm looks like it'll track well out to sea, but the Caribbean faces a very rough week.
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