Weather Permitting: Summer is returning to the Fayetteville area this weekend
The Cape Fear region may see triple-digit heat by the weekend.
Records are expected to fall Friday as Fayetteville approaches 100 degrees for the first time since last September. It would also be the earliest we've seen triple digits since a record heatwave in 1938.
The culprit is a summer-like ridge pumping unseasonably warm air into the Carolinas. It's expected to hang around through the weekend before giving way to a cold front late Sunday evening.
Here's the setup
On Friday, the watchword is heat. Fayetteville looks likely to challenge the high temperature record for the day (99, set in 1938). If we do hit 100, it would be the second-earliest time on record. The earliest is May 6, also in 1938. We could also set a new "high low" mark, breaking the current record of 71 from 1943.
In other words, it's been a long time since things were this toasty in Fayetteville. Saturday won't be quite as hot, but with an expected high of 97, things will be miserable.
By Sunday, the region should see increased cloud cover. An approaching cold front will be working through the Southeast, and a weak secondary low over the western state should help build clouds. Still, it will be warm and a bit muggy, say about 93 in Fayetteville with a dew point near 70.
Down the road
This front should reach the Cape Fear region early Monday, bringing clouds and a chance of showers. Highs Monday will drop back into the low to mid-80s, then likely stall in the upper 70s on Tuesday. The best chance of rain will come Monday afternoon and evening, lingering into Tuesday morning.
Remember to stay hydrated before any outdoor activity this weekend, and don't forget your pets. This will be the first truly hot stretch in the Carolinas, with 90s reaching down to the beaches. Take a little extra time to get acclimated and have a great, safe weekend.
Got a weather question? Chick Jacobs can be reached at ncweatherhound@gmail.com or NCWeatherhound on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Weather in Fayetteville, NC this weekend
