Sunny and mild on a somber anniversary

Today - Monday, April 27th - marks the 15th anniversary of the peak of a once-in-a-generation severe weather outbreak. The final day of the deadly 2011 tornado outbreak resulted in over 300 deaths and thousands of injuries across multiple states. This is the Storm Prediction Center's map of the severe reports that day:

Although no tornadoes were reported in Mecklenburg County, next door in Halifax County a tornado caused a death and several injuries.

The good news is that today's weather will be sunny and mild, with afternoon temperatures topping out near 70º. A northerly breeze will keep the cool air coming thanks to high pressure centered across New England. These conditions are much more April-like than Sunday's gloomy weather, which resulted in sub-60 degree high temperatures. That's well below the mid-70s average for late April.

As that high pressure pushes off the coast tonight the next spring-time cold front will begin its approach. That boundary will hang up across the Ohio Valley on Tuesday as a low pressure center develops along it. The overall result for Mecklenburg County will be increasing clouds and some showers tomorrow. Rain totals will be light, with temperatures again topping out near the 70º mark.

As that boundary nears the area Wednesday more rain and even thunderstorms are in the forecast. There is only a small chance of strong to severe storms on Hump Day, but the main weather story looks to be the potential for a quarter- to a half-inch of rain. That would be very welcome in these increasingly dry conditions.