Spring in February? Unusually warm weather forecast for the Carolinas this week
February is getting off to an unusually warm start in the Carolinas, forecasters say.
Temperatures in North and South Carolina are forecast to be warmer than normal for most of this week, with some areas expected to see thunderstorms later in the week, according to the National Weather Service.
Highs on Sunday are mostly in the low 60s, and lows are mostly in the low 40s across the Carolinas, the NWS says.
Temperatures are expected to warm up even more Monday, with highs reaching the mid 70s in many areas across the Carolinas, according to NWS forecast maps. Lows are only expected to dip into the low 50s.
Highs should be mostly in the low 70s until Friday with the exception of some areas in western North Carolina, which could see highs in the upper 50s to low 60s.
A cold front will cool things off Friday, with highs falling to the mid 50s to low 60s in most areas and to the high 40s in some parts of western North Carolina, forecasters say.
But ahead of the cold front, parts of the Carolinas could see some thunderstorms, the NWS says.
The Piedmont region and most of western North Carolina along with upstate South Carolina could get heavy rainfall starting Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service’s Greenville/Spartanburg office.
Flooding is possible in these areas Thursday, the NWS says.
Severe thunderstorms moving in Wednesday night or Thursday could “pose a severe weather threat,” the NWS says. Forecasters have issued a hazardous weather outlook for the area.
There’s also a high chance of rain in central North Carolina starting Wednesday, with severe storms possible Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service’s Raleigh office.
The NWS’s Wilmington office, which also covers northeastern South Carolina, says “fairly active” weather is possible starting Wednesday night.
“Decent” thunderstorms and “strong to severe” storms are possible in the area, the NWS says.
A hazardous weather outlook is issued in eastern North Carolina, which could see severe thunderstorms that could bring minor flooding, the NWS’s Newport/Morehead office says.
In Columbia, there’s a chance of rain starting Wednesday and Wednesday night, the NWS says. There’s a “slight” chance of thunderstorms in the area starting Thursday.
