Forecast Last Updated at Friday, July 30, 2010 at 6:21AM

Take a Break

A front pushed through the Southern Appalachians Thursday night. Drier air will overtake the region today leading to a beautiful summer day. Temperatures will not be much cooler, but less humidity will make things much more pleasant. The story changes quickly this weekend... Clouds increase Saturday, and showers/thundershowers will develop Saturday afternoon. Showers/thundershowers continue Saturday night with localized heavy rain likely especially right along the Blue Ridge. Scattered showers and thundershowers are expected Sunday. Temperatures this weekend will be slightly cooler under all the clouds.

Friday Hi: 74 Lo: 56 Lots of sunshine; Pleasantly less humid; NW wind 5-10 mph becoming light at night

Saturday Hi: 70 Lo: 60 Increasing clouds; Showers & t-showers by afternoon, continuing at night; Isolated heavy rain; SE wind 5-10 mph

Sunday Hi: 71 Lo: 60 Mostly cloudy; Scattered showers & t-showers; South wind 5-15 mph

Monday Hi: 74 Lo: 60 More sun; Widely-separated afternoon t-showers

Tuesday Hi: 75 Lo: 61 A good deal of sunshine & warm; Isolated to scattered afternoon & overnight thunderstorms

Further Out

Wednesday - Partly cloudy; Scattered t-storms; High in the mid 70s; Low in the lower 60s
Thursday - Partly to mostly cloudy; Scattered PM t-storms; High in the mid 70s; Low in the lower 60s

Forecast Discussion

A line of thundershowers Thursday night around midnight signaled the passage of a cold front from the north. Humidity levels will be lower behind the front today, but temperatures will not be much cooler. Today will be nicest day we have had in a long time. Enjoy!

Deep moisture from the Gulf, a southeasterly flow at the surface, and a disturbance aloft will combine to produce showers and thundershowers Saturday afternoon and Saturday night. Localized heavy rain is a good bet especially right along the Blue Ridge because cells will be very slow moving. We'll have to be alert to the potential for localized flooding Saturday night. Clouds and scattered showers/thundershower will continue into Sunday as well. Temperatures will be a bit cooler this weekend because of the clouds/rain/SE flow.

Monday features a good deal of sunshine with widely scattered PM thundershowers. Clusters of thunderstorms rolling southeastward out of the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys will have to watched and timed as they roll southeast Tuesday and Wednesday. The next front is expected Thursday or Friday of next week continuing the threat of PM thundershowers. Temperatures will be warm but not unreasonably warm next week. Humidity will again add discomfort to the equation.

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