We’re wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook. 

Your Weather Planner

Pockets of heavy rainfall will exit this evening with cloudy skies and a warm and humid forecast for overnight. Temperatures will only drop to the lower and middle 70s by sunrise on Friday with patchy fog limiting visibility once again in the morning.

Temperatures will climb back into the 80s in the afternoon but it will feel like the lower 90s in some spots because of the humidity. Showers and thunderstorms will become active earlier than what we saw on Thursday.

Be prepared for heavy rainfall and frequent lightning in some storms with a low risk for one or two storms to produce damaging winds and large hail.

By the weekend, the coverage of afternoon storms should be a bit more widespread. That will make for a higher chance for rain for any given location.

Get the full forecast for areas across the state: Charlotte | Triad | Triangle | Coastal | Mountains

Today's Big Stories

1. JetZero plans to build $4.7B plant in Greensboro, aims to create 14,500 jobs

Thousands of jobs are coming to Piedmont Triad International Airport with a major manufacturing plant planned by JetZero, an aviation company, officials said Thursday. JetZero is based out of Long Beach, California. The company deals with commercial, freight and military platforms, with the goal of delivering the world's first all-wing, commercially designed airplane.

2. Sheriff's office blames gangs in pool party shootout, says gang activity rising

As the investigation continues into a deadly shootout at a pool party in Catawba County, deputies say they are zeroing in on how they think a gang planned and carried out the shooting. According to the Catawba County District Attorney's Office, at least one of the shooting suspects confessed that the incident was planned by a gang. The Catawba County District Sheriff’s Office has not yet named which gang was involved.

3. Permitless concealed carry in North Carolina faces uphill battle after some GOP pushback

A bill to let adults carry concealed handguns without a permit cleared the North Carolina legislature on Wednesday, however the path to joining the majority of U.S. states with similar laws remains uncertain. The GOP-backed legislation faces a likely veto from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, as well as pushback from a handful of Republicans who voted against the legislation in the state House. House Speaker Destin Hall acknowledged those concerns after Wednesday's vote. 

4. UNC robotics lab prepares for AI-driven future

The global robotics race is heating up. Tesla recently released a video showing new progress on its humanoid robot, Optimus. Meta announced plans for a new division to build AI-powered robots to assist with physical tasks. Amazon is investing $10 billion into an AI campus in Richmond County. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, researchers are working on the kinds of tools that may one day help robots fit seamlessly into our everyday lives.

Your Notes for Tomorrow

  • Parole hearing for brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez
  • ULA rocket launch, carrying batch of Amazon's Project Kuiper internet network constellation
  • NBA Finals, Game 4: Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers at 8:30 p.m.

 

In Case You Missed It

Western North Carolina state parks open for visitors. Your guide to hitting the trails

Park rangers are encouraging everyone to visit western North Carolina state parks, taking advantage of what they offer, as they continue to reopen post-Helene.