A foretaste of fall?

Yes, the blog title is correct. Enough cool air is in place across Mecklenburg County to feel less like summer and more like fall. Even NWS Wakefield feels that way, with this quote coming from their Friday morning forecast discussion: "THE FREE TRIAL OF SEPTEMBER CONTINUES TODAY".

The overall circulation across the U.S. is aiding and abetting this cool snap across the Mid-Atlantic states while the west is baking. This upper air map (~18,000 ft overhead) illustrates:

Today will remain mostly cloudy with a northeasterly breeze as a stationary front remains draped across the Carolinas. Temperatures will top out in the upper 70s locally, with a couple of spots possibly reaching 80 degrees this afternoon. Showers will move into the area tonight as a wrinkle of low pressure forms along that boundary to the south.

Saturday looks to begin with thermometers dipping into the low 60s. Clouds and showers will dominate much of the day, although there could be peeks of the sun before it sets at 8:25 p.m. across Buggs Island / Kerr Lake. Rain totals through tomorrow will be in the quarter- to half-inch range, although some forecast models do hint at more than that. The county is still under an Extreme Drought designation per this week's Drought Monitor, so the more rain the better.

Sunday will be the bonus weekend day, starting out in the mid-60s under clear skies. Sunshine will dominate the day and temperatures will top out in the mid-80s. The cool regime will begin to ease out of the area on Monday, with next week looking to bring back typical late July conditions.

Happy Friday!