String of WRAL Weather Alert Days tied to daily storm, flood risk

We'll see more scattered-to-numerous showers and thunderstorms on Monday, a WRAL Weather Alert Day.

Storms will once again develop after noon or 1 p.m. Monday. The strongest will bring localized damage and flood potential to the area.

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• Monday: Storms turn more numerous in the afternoon and evening. Highs in the upper 80s.
• Tuesday: Hotter with more hit-and-miss afternoon storms. Highs in the mid-90s.
• Wednesday: More numerous storms and some may become severe. Highs near 90 degrees.

A cold front will stall over the area into Monday, bringing a better chance for showers and storms by the afternoon and into the evening. 

A few of these storms could become severe. The main threat with any storm that gets to this level would be damaging wind gusts.

Some localized flooding is possible as well.

Tuesday could bring a few strong to severe storms, especially from the Triangle northward. This will trigger our fifth-straight WRAL Weather Alert Day.

However, an even better chance for storms will arrive on Wednesday as a stronger cold front swings through the region. 

"We are already watching that day for possible severe storms. Damaging wind gusts will be the main concern," said WRAL meteorologist Grant Skinner.

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

Projected rain totals show the potential for a few inches of rain, especially along and east of I-95.

Keep in mind, however, that models can underestimate the amount of rain that falls during the stormy season, so some locations will exceed that.

As of the 5 a.m. update Monday from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Depression Two is nearly stationary in the northern Gulf. It could become a tropical storm by the start of this week, gliding toward the Gulf Coast. 

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.

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