Active Weather is ahead; rounds of storms are likely, with some Flash Flooding possible.

Ethan Clark

July 21, 2026 at 8:08:00 PM

Alright guys, let's talk, since it appears everyone in their brother and 3rd cousin once removed has plans this week and into the weekend! Unfortunately, if you have outdoor plans, you'll be at the mercy of Mother Nature for the next few days. An approaching front will bring a very active period of weather through Saturday at least across North Carolina, and if you haven’t had rain yet by Saturday, I am pretty confident you'll have rainfall!

WHAT: A front will move into the state and stall Wednesday night into Thursday; where the stalling occurs will greatly determine who sees potentially significant rainfall through Saturday, which would also have the potential to have Flash Flooding, which is currently favoring somewhere across Central/Eastern NC. Even with drought condtions excessive rainfall just runs off and results in Flash Flooding. Yes, we can flood in droughts.

Wednesday PM/Evening (Image 2): Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop, with a limited severe weather risk, with damaging winds as the main threat along the front, which appears to be stalled over parts of Central/Eastern. A level 2/5 risk of Severe Weather has been placed by the Storm Prediction Center; there could be a brief/limited Tornado risk Wednesday evening into the overnight hours (watching)

Thursday: Waves of on-and-off showers and thunderstorms will be possible across the state on and off, favoring Central and Eastern NC. Some could be heavy at times, resulting in potential flash flooding for some. Low severe risk at this point and much cooler temps in the 70s/80s for most areas due to considerable clouds.

Friday: The highest storm chances/rain will be in Central and Southern/Southeastern/Eastern sections of the state. Not a washout, but storms definitely around.

Unsettled weather will continue into the weekend; not a washout by any means, but better chances for more storms and rain the further south and east you are.

The Bottom Line: We need the rain, but all at once could result in some Flash Flooding. I'll be watching over the coming days and pinpoint where exactly as we get a clearer picture. Stay tuned for updates; here are just some thoughts!

-Ethan

Mountains

110°F

Raleigh area

CADEN NELSON

A Special Message from Ethan: 10 Year Anniversary

Caden Nelson
Apr 1
2 min read

Special Message: Today marks a decade of North Carolina's Weather Authority, celebrated on April Fools' Day lol. Ten years ago, at the age of 13 and in the 7th grade at Oberlin Road Middle School in Raleigh, I decided to create a weather page for my friends and family. Little did I know that this simple endeavor would lead to such remarkable growth and success!

Over the past decade, my work has gained significant recognition. I've assumed a staggering number of followers on Facebook and Instagram, with over a million combined across all 100 counties of North Carolina. My weather forecasts have been featured on nearly every major media platform in the country, including NBC, CBS, FOX, The New York Times, CNN, People Magazine, Our State, BBC, Yahoo, Southern Living, and many more.

Throughout this journey, I've received awards for my work from both current and former governors of the state. Despite the accolades and recognition, my unwavering mission remains the same: to provide accurate and down-to-earth weather forecasts, assist the people of North Carolina, and be there for them no matter what, without causing unnecessary hype or alarm.

My life has undergone significant changes over the past decade, including graduating high school, attending college, and embarking on my career. However, my passion and love for weather and this state have remained steadfast.

Thank you to the incredible people who have followed North Carolina's Weather Authority for the past decade and the new ones who have discovered me over the years. I truly appreciate your trust in me to provide you with accurate weather forecasts and support your family.

We have faced numerous once-in-a-lifetime hurricanes, historic winter storms, countless severe weather events, record heat, record cold, and rolling blackouts.

This isn't a goodbye; I'm recharging my batteries and ready to take North Carolina's Weather Authority into the next decade. I'm actively working on ways to make this my career. Thank you for the support, and to 13-year-old Ethan, I'm glad I pursued my dream of becoming a weatherman. I'll never regret the things I missed over the years because of the time I spent devoting my work on this! Thank you so much!