Rain finally returns to Charlotte region

Rain finally moved into the Charlotte region early Tuesday, with steady showers in the Lake Norman area and some light precipitation in Charlotte.

“It’s not a very strong system, but it’s a very moist system and will hang around through the rest of the week,” meteorologist Trisha Palmer of the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg said. “Today is the best chance to see rain.”

Some areas could see three-quarters to an inch of rain over the next 24 hours, Palmer said at about 5 a.m.

The moisture is coming from the Gulf, she said, while a weak upper level disturbance is moving across the southern Appalachians and the Charlotte region.

Tuesday’s chance of rain stands at 70 percent and Wednesday’s at 60 percent, although Palmer said the amount of rainfall will vary from one area to the next across the region.

A weak front is expected to approach the area Thursday, bringing yet another chance of widespread showers and thunderstorms. Another front could arrive by Monday.

Any rain is welcome amid the summer’s drought.

August normally sees 2.35 inches of rain by now, but only 1.23 inches have fallen, according to the weather service.

The Charlotte area has had 19.81 inches of rain so far this year, compared with 26.73 inches normally.

The moisture is keeping temperatures down, with a high of only 82 forecast for Tuesday, compared with 88 normally this day of the year.

Highs are expected to climb to 88 Wednesday, 90 Thursday and about 89 Friday through Monday.

This story was originally published August 18, 2015 at 5:55 AM with the headline "Rain finally returns to Charlotte region."