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Another active day ahead for our Sunday!

Ethan Clark

July 19, 2026 at 2:38:16 PM

⛈️ Storm Update: Here we go again, another active afternoon and evening is expected across parts of the state. A cold front will approach the region from the north later today. This, along with increasing CAPE (Convective available potential energy) to over 2,000 J/kg, will result in scattered showers and thunderstorms developing.


We should have an unstable lapse rate, meaning the rate at which atmospheric temperature decreases with increasing altitude, this afternoon and evening. Gusty winds and downbursts would be the main threat; a couple of storms could be strong to severe across the state.


As with the last few days, not everyone will see storms, but the ones that do develop will be strong to severe with gusty to damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and lots of lightning being the main threats.


The timing will be mainly after lunch into the late evening. I've attached the future radar. Don't take it literally; it just gives you an idea of the scattered storms in nature. I'll pass along updates.






-Ethan

Mountains

110°F

Raleigh area

CADEN NELSON

CADEN NELSON

Showers and thunderstorms are likely Sunday Severe Weather threat for some

Severe Weather Update: I am tracking a complex weather system that will move through the state on Sunday; there's a conditional Severe Weather Threat for Central and Eastern NC. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a level 1/5 risk of Severe Weather from areas west of Raleigh to Charlotte/Greensboro, basically to I77. Further east, a level 2/5 risk has been issued from Raleigh and points east. All threats are on the table, but it is not going to be the end all be all. I don't think we will see widespread severe weather; it'll be very hit or miss. I'll explain below.


Cliff Notes for folks who don't want to read the post: -Risk of a few strong to severe storms Sunday for parts of Central and Eastern NC. -Damaging winds, large hail, an isolated Tornado threat -Severe Threats around all-day


WHAT: A surface low will be positioned over NC during the morning hours on Sunday; we will have very strong low-level winds advancing through the state, especially Eastern NC. Winds aloft will have some turning as we increase in height; this points to me that there is at least a low-end tornado threat. The storm mode will likely be messy with likely 2 rounds of storms, one threat in the morning hours Sunday and another round in the afternoon/evening. I think the sloppy mode will help reduce our widespread severe weather threat. However, if storms do become discrete, we could definitely see an increased tornado threat, something to monitor Sunday.

Threats: Any storms that can get going and take advantage of the ingredients will have the threat of damaging winds, large hail, and even a Tornado. Once again, I don't think it'll be a widespread severe weather event at this time, but we should stay aware Sunday, especially my Central and Eastern NC folks. The timing will be all day Sunday, with the threat starting first thing in the morning; I'll be monitoring and posting updates as usual.


The Bottom Line: An active Sunday with showers/storms likely on and off all day, is not the end of the world, just rather inconvenient. Be aware of a couple of strong to severe storms; as always, we will get through it.





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