Fall weather is coming to Fayetteville, NC
The last weekend of summer in the Cape Fear region will confirm what the calendar says: fall is on the way.
A strong Canadian high pressure system will establish over the Carolinas this weekend, with cooler temperatures and drier air. The result: a first taste of fall in the Cape Fear region.
It is a far cry from the conditions that prevailed five years ago on this date. In 2018, Hurricane Florence slowly came ashore near Wilmington, bringing with it record winds and rain to much of the Southern region. In areas across Bladen, Robeson and Columbus counties, rainfall was measured in feet, not inches. Floods devastated areas still recovering from Hurricane Matthew two years ago. A single-day rainfall record for North Carolina, 35.9 inches, was set northwest of Elizabethtown in Bladen County.
42 people died in North Carolina, and damage totaled more than $16 billion.
End of this week
This weekend will be more fun. As high pressure builds from Canada, sunshine and low temperatures will settle into the mid-80s over the Cape Fear region. Northerly flow from Hurricane Lee’s west side will enhance northerly winds as well.
Friday highs will settle in around 80 on Friday, with dew points falling into the upper 40s. Prep football’s kickoff will be close to perfect: kickoff temperatures around 72 degrees, highs in the low 50s and a light north breeze. Overnight lows will be around 58 degrees in Fayetteville, cooler to the north and west.
Saturday will be sunny and mild with a high around 85 in Fayetteville and a low near 62. Sunday may be a couple of degrees warmer with the high pressure adjusting, but dew points will still be pleasant.
next week
There is a chance of showers as a low pressure system west of the Appalachians drops south and brings some moisture into the Gulf. This system could affect our weather next week, depending on its path. Otherwise, the beginning of fall looks sunny and seasonal.
In the tropics
Hurricane Lee continues to slide northward away from the coast. Dangerous waves and rip currents will continue along the coast. Another system in Cape Verde will likely become Tropical Storm Nigel over the weekend and will bear watch as it moves toward the west-northwest.
Enjoy your weekend!
Got a weather question? Chick Jacobs can be reached at ncweatherhound@gmail.com or on NCWeatherhound X/Twitter.
