Got a call from my aunt in Florida today, checking in on us as she had seen the news about Hurricane Earl approaching North Carolina. I should say that Earl is hitting a brick wall of high pressure as it approaches the state. The air has been hot and dry for us all week and this high pressure dome will keep us from seeing any precipitation from Earl. Raleigh is about 100 miles inland, so there’s really no threat to us this time around.

Here’s the forecast discussion from the local National Weather Service office:

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/…
— Changed Discussion —
AS OF 230 PM THURSDAY…

LITTLE CHANGE REQUIRED TO THE GRIDS/FORECAST.

HURRICANE EARL MOVING TO THE NORTH WITH LEADING EDGE OF CIRRUS ALONG THE HIGHWAY 1 CORRIDOR. THIS LEADING EDGE SHOULD DISSIPATE AS IT MOVES FARTHER WEST INTO THE MID/UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE APPALACHIANS AND ITS ASSOCIATED DRIER AIR. AS EARL PARALLEL THE COAST TONIGHT…NEAR SURFACE WINDS OVER THE REGION WILL BACK FROM A NE TO A MORE NLY DIRECTION. WHILE MOST LOCALES WILL SEE WIND SPEEDS 10 KNOTS OR LESS…AREAS EAST OF I-95 WILL LIKELY SEE SUSTAINED WINDS AROUND 15 MPH WITH FREQUENT GUSTS AROUND 25 MPH. BEST CHANCE OF RAIN WILL BE ALONG THE EASTERN FRINGE OF THE FORECAST AREA BUT ONLY A 1:5 CHANCE. MIN TEMPS VARYING FROM THE MID 60S IN THE WEST TO NEAR 70 INT HE FAR EAST WHERE WIND AND CLOUD COVERAGE WILL RESULT IN WARMER TEMPS.