Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect Sunday; WRAL Weather Alert Day continues

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 8:00 p.m. Sunday

We will close out the weekend with another hot day and a chance for storms that will bring a couple of threats.

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• Sunday (WRAL Weather Alert Day): Hot with more afternoon and evening storms. Some could become severe. Highs in the mid-90s.
• Monday: Not as hot but we expect more showers and storms. Most near/south of I-40. Highs in the upper 80s.
• Tuesday: More late day storms are possible. Highs in the low-mid 90s.

A Heat Advisory is once again in effect for most of the WRAL viewing area Sunday. 

Highs reach the mid 90s with a heat index that peaks between 103 and 107 degrees.

This is prior to yet another storm chance. Storms start in the afternoon, and the strongest storms should wrap up between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Sunday.

The strongest of storms produce the chance for localized wind damage, outages and/or flooding.

Temperatures won’t be as hot by Monday, and we’ll have another good chance for rain as a front stalls and eventually fizzles out over the area.

There is a low-end severe threat on Monday, so an isolated storm or two could bring damaging wind gusts.

Some localized flooding is possible as well.

A few more storms are possible on Tuesday, but our next best chance for storms does not arrive until Wednesday, ahead of another front. Some of these storms could be severe, bringing damaging wind gusts.

There isn't much pushing the front east of here, so additional showers will be possible Thursday.

Expect lows in the 60s and highs in the 80s later this week into the upcoming weekend - a nice break from the intense heat, at least.

Tropical Depression Two formed as of 11 a.m. Sunday. It is not forecast to have a direct impact on North Carolina.

However, it may fling some moisture our way Monday through Wednesday. 

By Wednesday, that moisture meets up with a potent cold front from the north. This will enhance our chance of showers and storms Wednesday, and some may become strong to severe again. 

Beyond that, we'll see a bit of a dip in temperatures and humidity levels.

Parts of the Triangle and eastern North Carolina have received some needed rain which has helped to ease the drought.

New drought data released on Thursday, July 16, shows the state's exceptional drought is down from 6% to 5%, and the extreme drought is down from 50% to 39%.

Still, WRAL meteorologists have said it could take a tropical system to get rid of our drought status, and most municipalities are asking residents to limit water consumption.

It would take more than 15 inches of rain to catch up on the deficit, and much of central North Carolina is likely to remain in a drought through September.

• Sunday: Another hot day with scattered storms. Highs in the low to mid 90s.
• Monday: Scattered storms with highs near 90.
• Tuesday: Scattered storms with highs in the low 90s.
• Wednesday: Scattered storms with highs in the upper 80s.
• Thursday: Lingering showers/storms. Not as hot. Highs in the mid-80s.
• Friday: Partly cloudy with a lower rain chance. Highs in the mid to upper 80s.
• Saturday: Partly cloudy and warm. Highs in the upper 80s.