Forecast Last Updated at Friday, September 3, 2010 at 3:33PM

Weak Front; Cooler Weekend

Our air mass changing front passing through might spark a shower or t-shower, especially on the west side of the Appalachians through early evening. Refreshing breezes kick up thereafter. The weekend will be much cooler as Earl combined with a trough in the Great Lakes drives much cooler air south. It will be breezy tonight and Saturday. These winds may usher in the first 30s of the season up top by Sunday morning! We'll have full sun Saturday through Tuesday with only a few clouds after that. Temperatures will gradually climb next week after our "Fall Preview" weekend.

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Friday Hi: 82 Lo: 56 Scattered clouds; Slight chance for a shower or t-shower early evening then breezy; NW wind 5-15 mph increasing to 10-20 mph tonight & gusty

Saturday Hi: 71 Lo: 44 Deep blue skies with a few clouds; A noticeably cooler fall preview; NW wind 10-20 mph & gusty during the daytime

Sunday Hi: 72 Lo: 48 Bright sunshine; Great day; Cool night; Light winds

Monday Hi: 78 Lo: 55 Sunny Labor Day; Fantastic weather to be outside

Tuesday Hi: 80 Lo: 58 Sunny; Warmer

Further Out

Wednesday - Few clouds; Continued dry, pleasant; High near 80 degrees; Low in the upper 50s
Thursday - Mostly Sunny; Dry; Pleasant; High near 80 degrees; Low in the upper 50s

Forecast Discussion

Hurricane Early passed to the east of Cape Hatteras early this morning and brought strong tropical storm force winds and some low end hurricane gusts. A track just off the coast and dry air getting injected into the storm as it moved north made all the difference in keeping this a mere glancing blow to the Outer Banks. The fast movement of this storm makes for a windy start to the holiday weekend for Cape Cod tonight before it makes its final landfall into Nova Scotia via the Bay of Fundy.

A weak front will move through the Southern Appalachians. We have the slight chance of a shower or thundershower through early this evening favoring the west side of the Appalachians. It will be a non-issue for most of the region. You will notice more of a NW breeze and increasingly breezy conditions tonight.

Much cooler air will be forced into the Southeast this weekend--a Fall Preview. Expect clear skies, refreshing temperatures, and breezy conditions Saturday. Beyond Saturday, we will have gradually warmer with continued sunny skies--BEAutiful! A weak front may reach us by next Thursday, add a couple clouds; it's probably too weak and too dry to spark a shower.

Elsewhere in the tropical Atlantic... Tropical storm Fiona is headed toward Bermuda today. Gaston was downgraded to just a tropical wave yesterday but could be heard from again. Another tropical wave is just off the African Coast. The U. S. is safe from any tropical threat for several days after Earl.

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