After a string of pleasantly warm weather, showers and thunderstorms will return today. Unsettled weather will continue through Friday with drier weather and cooler temperatures returning on Saturday.
Thursday will start out dry and mild, but scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop this afternoon as a cold front advances east. Model guidance suggests there may be two main rounds of thunderstorms late today – the first round during the mid to late afternoon and a second later this evening.
Although the overall risk for any severe storms today is low, some of today’s storms could produce gusty wind. The Storm Prediction Center has our area highlighted in the Marginal Risk 1/5) category for today.
The biggest concern is that storms tonight could train which may result in a succession of heavy rainfall over the same area. Heavy rainfall and localized flooding could be a problem where thunderstorms train.
Generally speaking, an inch of rain or more will be possible in our area over the next 24 hours.
TIMING
As mentioned earlier, storms today look to occur in two rounds. The first round this afternoon will be more scattered. The storms that move through after sunset tonight are expected to be more widespread. Simulated radar for today through midnight:
Showers and thunderstorms will continue overnight and may linger into early Friday morning before the cold front clears the region later in the morning. High pressure will bring a return to dry conditions Friday afternoon. Temperatures tomorrow will be a bit cooler behind the front with afternoon highs around 70°.