FOX Carolina 21Rainy Morning, Drier Afternoon

Rainy Morning, Drier Afternoon

Rain is overspreading the western parts of the area early this morning, and it will be a soggy start to the day.  Between now (6:30 AM) and lunchtime, we'll watch for the highest rain chances.  This steady rain will be mainly light to moderate, however, some heavier downpours are possible at times.  We haven't seen any thunder or lightning locally at this point, and I don't think we'll see much of anything as far as storms go today (perhaps a rumble of thunder, but that's it).

By early afternoon, almost all spots will dry out.  Locations along the TN border in WNC may keep a few light showers lingering this afternoon, but those would be the only areas to watch.  Despite the cloudy skies and rain early, afternoon highs will rise a few degrees above-normal.  We'll reach the mid to upper 50s area-wide.  Clouds will begin to clear this afternoon - so a few peeks of sun are possible.  More clearing will come tonight and through the overnight hours - and this could allow some fog to develop overnight and early Friday.

Low visibilities could slow you down on Friday, but that's the only "weather-negative" coming tomorrow.  It will be a fabulous end to the week, as high pressure will keep mostly sunny skies in control.  Highs will be mild - near 60 degrees in the Mountains and in the mid 60s in the Upstate.

A low pressure system from the Gulf will track along the East Coast this weekend, and this will bring high rain chances back into the area.  At this point, it looks like rain will move in Saturday afternoon - and it will be especially heavy late Saturday through early Sunday.  While Upstate areas will see only rain, the WNC Mountains may see rain transition to snow during the end of the weekend.  However, this will not be a major winter event.  It could be a heavy rain event, though - 1 to 2 inches of rain will be possible this weekend.