FOX Carolina 21Groundhog Unemployment Rising

Groundhog Unemployed:  With the lack of cold air/snow across much of the east and southeast this winter (much of the country a good portion of this winter), I can find very little legitimate reason for there to be a "Groundhog Day" this year.  Since there hasn't been a winter, just what sort of information can Phil or General Lee pass along?  Although, I guess that pudgy thing is good for a laugh.  Credit goes to blogger Ray for pointing out that the Groundhog "might as well sleep in this year because we can't have 6 more weeks of something we haven't had yet."

This Evening/Overnight:  While storms won't be any sort of problem this evening (lack of a significant cold boundary/front supporting storms), rain will create some slick if you are headed into town later this evening.  As of now (1:30pm), a solid line of showers is rolling through northern Georgia and some of that rain is coming down in towns like Bryson City, Franklin, Sylva, Brevard, Cherokee and Asheville this afternoon.  This line may break up a bit as it moves into the Upstate a little later, but most of it should stay fairly consolidated once it moves in.  Showers will be likely this evening and part of the overnight before moving out during the early morning hours of Thursday.

Thursday:  More good news for tomorrow.  Due to mild morning lows (starting in the upper 40s and low 50s because of the added cloud-cover) and lack of a significant cold front, it won't take much sunshine to push Upstate towns past the 70° mark with many Western NC towns getting past 65°.  Thursday will be mostly sunny area-wide with no lingering rain chance. 

Friday:  I'm doubting any sort of rain Friday.  The system responsible for rain later on during the weekend won't be close enough.  Still expect a mostly cloudy sky with temperatures a little cooler due to a light east-northeast wind (wedge effect).  Highs will range from 57°-61° in the Upstate/NE Georgia with Western NC highs near 60°.

Saturday:  This will be the day where light rain and a cool, east wind combine to make for some low-mid 50s for temperatures area-wide.  Expect off/on rain showers on Saturday with the best chance late in the day.  It may not rain much at all until the later afternoon or evening Saturday (even then, light showers/drizzle at most).

Sunday:  Temperatures won't be quite as cool Sunday (some low 60s), but there will be a better chance for a line of rain to move through.  It looks like the best chance of that rain will come Sunday morning.