The first week of summer will be characterized by warm, dry weather. With a strong ridge of high pressure continuing to strengthen over the eastern half the U.S., the Carolinas will continue to experience unseasonably warm temperatures with near-zero rain chances. Highs across the Piedmont and Triad will remain in the mid to upper 80s straight into next week.

Long-range models are now showing a pattern change in the weather late next week into next weekend, as this ridge begins to flatten and the trough that has been holding steady over the Intermountain West starts to swing eastward. This will likely result in a cool down to near-average temperatures.

Meanwhile, Maria will continue tracking north into next week. As of Saturday morning, models are now showing a more westward trend to the track, pulling it a bit closer to the Carolina coast. While there is still a good amount of uncertainty involving exactly how close the center of circulation will get to the coastline, the Outer Banks southward into the southeast North Carolina coast should anticipate dangerous rip currents and rough surf beginning late this weekend into next week.