Phillip’s First Alert Forecast: Watching for thunderstorms to bring heavy rain to some

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - A slow moving cold front is moving through from the northwest today. It has been a First Alert Weather Day as some southern counties are seeing significant rainfall and some brief, strong winds. Storms should move toward the east, so watch the western sky for darkening conditions.

With today’s front showing no signs of stopping over the East, we’ll see skies slowly clear over the weekend. Highs will fall to the low 80s with a slight reduction in humidity as well. A few isolated rain drops will skirt the coast Sunday as what is expected to be Tropical Storm Alex passes a few hundred miles off the coast. This tropical pass will create a high threat of rip currents Sunday through midweek. The partly sunny weather will continue through the start of the work week before another front arrives on Wednesday and temperatures return to the 90s.

TROPICAL UPDATE

Potential Tropical Cyclone One, which was once Hurricane Agatha over the Eastern Pacific Ocean, is likely to become Tropical Storm Alex over the Southeastern Gulf of Mexico later today. The Hurricane Center is giving the low pressure area a 90% chance of becoming a tropical storm.

It will continue to track northeastward towards the Gulf Coast of Florida. Today’s incoming cold front will help usher the system away from Eastern NC beaches. Increase rip current threats are expected for our beaches Sunday through midweek. The closest the storm is expected to our area is Sunday when it should pass by about 300 to 400 miles to our southeast. Of course, stay tuned for future track forecast updates.

DROUGHT MONITOR UPDATE

The weekly update on the drought shows some improvement from severe to moderate drought for Martin and Bertie Counties. Central coastal counties have no drought designation thanks to severe rounds of rains over the last few weeks. Meanwhile, severe drought continues from Pitt County through Greene, Lenoir, Duplin, and the western half of Onslow County.

Friday

Partly to mostly cloudy with rain/storms starting in the afternoon, mainly for the central and southern parts of the area. High of 88. Wind: SW/NW 7-15. Rain chance: 80%

Saturday

Partly sunny and milder with highs only around 83. Wind: NE 5-10.

Sunday

Partly cloudy with a slight chance of coastal showers. High of 82. Wind: E 10 G 15. Rain chance: 20%

Monday

Partly cloudy and warm. High of 86. Wind: SE 5.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny and warm with highs in the upper 80s. Wind: S 5-10.

Wednesday

Storms possible with heat kicking highs up to 90. Wind: SW 5-10. Rain chance: 40%

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