Charlotte forecast: Sunshine to replace rain-drenched skies. The latest from the NWS
Since May 1, drought-stricken Charlotte has seen nearly double the amount of rain than its historic average over 30 years, a National Weather Service meteorologist said Tuesday.
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But Mecklenburg County remains in “severe drought” status on the U.S. Drought Monitor map, and much of Cabarrus County and part of Union County in “extreme drought.”
And only sunny skies are forecast through early next week, NWS forecaster Christiaan Patterson said.
Showers Tuesday morning “were the last hurrah for at least a week,” Patterson said. “Every bit of rain helps the drought, but we’re going to need so much more rain.”
Intense rains stranded drivers in flooded Union County roads last weekend, but downpours across the region weren’t enough to change the area’s drought status, Patterson said.
A total of 6.24 inches of rain fell in Charlotte in May compared with 3.36 inches historically, she said.
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Yet the region is way behind its historic rainfall average since June 1: 12.4 inches to date compared with 18 inches, Patterson said.
The temperature roller coaster continues today: forecast around 10 degrees cooler than Monday. Scattered rain showers expected, mainly across the western half of our area. Today will be the last day with a chance of rain for any part of our area until at least this weekend. pic.twitter.com/DE4z9kF0kj
After mostly cloudy skies and an expected high of only 74 degrees on Tuesday, Charlotte can expect a streak of all-sunshine days and rapidly warming temps, according to the NWS forecast.
Highs are excepted to climb to 79 degrees on Wednesday, 84 on Thursday, 88 on Friday and Saturday and 89 on Sunday, before dipping to 88 on Monday, according to the forecast.
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Monday has a slim 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, the forecast showed.
