First Alert Forecast: closing in on 100” for the year in Wilmington, drier and cooler in the long term

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Happy Friday evening to you! Your First Alert Weather Team is watching for the potential of heavy rain and flooding as a potent storm system cruises through the Cape Fear Region. If you have plans outside this weekend, Saturday will be the wetter day of the two. Looking ahead to next week, finally drier air will return along with cooler temperatures. Please take note of these details as you take a look at your forecast:

- The final stretch to 100 inches of rain! Wilmington has officially received an epic 99.5 inches of rain so far in 2018 and, by Sunday, an additional one to two inches of rain will have likely fallen.

- Be alert for flooding... The National Weather Service has hoisted a Flash Flood Watch for all of southeastern North Carolina for Friday morning into Saturday afternoon. Be prepared to avoid any poor-drainage or lowland flooding.

- Be alert for storms... Abundant wind energy in the lower atmosphere could support a brief severe thunderstorm window either late Friday or early Saturday. Plan to stay extra weather-aware in this time!

- No snow this go around... The Carolina storm system from this past weekend had a distinctive and disruptive snowy and icy edge to it but, both locally and regionally, this next one’s going to feature exclusively rain.

- Tailor your forecast... The planning forecast you see here reflects your WECT Weather App’s Wilmington zone. Tap into the app from your location to see more tailored numbers for you!

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