ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Western North Carolina could see another round of heavy rain, thunderstorms and isolated flash flooding heading into the weekend, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg.
Forecasters said showers and storms are expected to develop later Friday evening and continue overnight, with the greatest chances along and west of the Interstate 26 corridor. While widespread flooding is not expected, meteorologists warned that some areas could see heavy downpours capable of causing localized flash flooding.
“Stay weather aware,” the weather service said in a Friday update, noting that repeated rounds of rain could move over the same locations overnight into Saturday.
The unsettled weather pattern has lingered across the region for days as a stalled frontal boundary shifts back and forth across the Carolinas and Northeast Georgia. Forecasters said a system moving out of the Southern Plains will push that boundary back into the mountains and foothills Friday night, increasing the chances for thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.
Meteorologists said moisture levels in the atmosphere are expected to increase significantly, creating the potential for “training” storms — a setup where multiple storms repeatedly move across the same area. That pattern can quickly overwhelm creeks, streams and drainage systems even when overall rainfall totals are not extreme.
Although forecasters stopped short of issuing a flood watch Friday morning, they said isolated flash flood events remain “very much in the realm of possibility” overnight and early Saturday.
Storm coverage is expected to increase again Saturday afternoon, especially across the southwestern mountains and foothills. Some storms could become strong, though forecasters described the severe weather threat as low-end at this point. Heavy rainfall remains the primary concern.
Saturday’s forecast for Asheville calls for showers likely before midday, followed by additional showers and possible thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening. High temperatures are expected to remain cooler than usual, reaching only the upper 70s.
Conditions are expected to briefly improve Sunday as cooler and drier air moves into the region behind the front. Sunday’s high in Asheville is forecast near 73 degrees — roughly 10 degrees below average for late May.
Rain chances return Monday as another cold front sweeps through the area, bringing one final round of scattered showers and thunderstorms before a more prolonged stretch of dry weather settles in next week.
Forecasters said cooler-than-normal temperatures and lower humidity are expected from Tuesday through at least Thursday, with daytime highs running about 5 degrees below seasonal averages across the mountains and foothills.