High pressure will bring a pause in the rain and a further uptick in temperatures starting Tuesday. We start the day in the low to mid-70s (warmer near the coast), warming to the low 90s in the afternoon under partly cloudy to mostly sunny skies. With 70s dewpoints continuing their comeback, expect heat indices in the low 100s to return to the area as well — a fair bit warmer than we’ve been used to recently, but staying below the heat advisory thresholds we got to know very well during July.

The final week of August will end on a warm and more humid note than the past 7-10 days have offered across the area. Storms will take a pause, though, as high pressure aloft puts a lid on widespread cloud cover, much less thunderstorm development, for much of the week.

The stationary front that’s kept shower chances in the neighborhood over the weekend still lingers nearby, and a shower or two will be possible (though unlikely) on Monday. Dewpoints will continue their steady climb, peaking in the mid-70s, which will make the upper 80s feel more like the mid-90s.

High pressure aloft will become more entrenched across the area starting Tuesday, setting us up for a rain-free stretch through Friday that will feature warmer-than-normal temperatures for late August. We should see highs peak in the low-to-mid-90s each afternoon, and with dewpoints peaking in the mid-70s, heat indices should head back into the 100s especially Wednesday-Friday. We’ll fall short of the Heat Advisory threshold of 108°, but it’ll still be plenty warm with just a few clouds to hide the sun from time to time. The high pressure pattern will keep winds generally light, too, so there won’t be much of a breeze, either.

As we head into Labor Day weekend, the high pressure ridge aloft gets shunted south and west as a trough digs in a bit to our north. This will kick up the chance for a few afternoon thunderstorms and take some of the bite out of the heat, but it’ll still be plenty warm as we bid farewell to summer as meteorological fall begins on Sunday.

Cool high pressure will hang tough over much of the Carolinas heading into the weekend, though coastal areas could run a little warmer and more humid depending on the position of a stationary front/coastal trough nearby. The trough keeps cloud cover in the forecast for Saturday in particular, and that combined with northeasterly winds will keep temperatures down into the mid-80s in the afternoon after another mid-60s start. A stray shower or thunderstorm will be possible Saturday, particularly closest to the coast, with the nearby trough. A little more humidity creeps into the area for Sunday as winds just off the deck turn more onshore. It remains to be seen just how deep the moisture becomes with some fairly serious differences in model guidance showing up, but ultimately be ready for an isolated storm or two Sunday afternoon. We will see dewpoints return to the low 70s; as high temperatures head to the mid-to-upper 80s, that will yield heat indices in the low 90s. Nothing terribly heinous, though certainly not as comfortable as it has been.

While northeasterly winds continue around the high pressure wedge, the risk for coastal flooding around times of high tide has ended as the tidal departures will stay below flood stage (though they will creep into action stage from time to time). One less thing to worry about, at least. Enjoy the weekend!

The whiff of fall we’ve felt the past day or two starts to retreat a bit as we head into Friday and the weekend. (All good things…)

We do get one more really nice start on Friday, though. Expect to start the day in the mid-60s in much of the metro, running closer to 70° near the coast and even cooler further inland. We’ll warm to the low 80s in the afternoon under mostly cloudy skies. Dewpoints will be climbing back into the upper 60s, so while not terribly oppressive, the humidity will be a little more noticeable. It should also support the risk for a few showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon after a couple reasonably quiet days.

The warming trend continues into the weekend. We’re back in the mid-80s on Saturday and the upper 80s on Sunday as dewpoints return to the 70s. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will remain possible each afternoon, but not everyone will see rain, nor will it be the kind of rain to completely ruin the day, either. Just keep an eye out for possible storms and be ready to move outdoor activities inside for a bit.

We’ve got a reasonably comfortable day (especially as late August goes) for Thursday as cool high pressure continues to rule the meteorological roost in our neck of the woods. We start the day in the upper 60s in much of the metro, likely dropping even lower further inland and in more rural locations. Temperatures should warm to the mid-80s in the afternoon, but humidity will be quite tolerable with mid-60s dewpoints expected. Clouds will be on the increase as a coastal trough takes shape, and there will be a risk for a shower near the coast, but much of us get the day in rain-free.