Pinpoint Weather: Clouds increasing ahead of rain

ROANOKE, Va. ( WFXR ) – Clouds will increase across the region on Thursday as Francine moves northward from the Gulf of Mexico. Some showers are possible on Friday with better chances in the south and lower chances northward.

Due to the increased cloud cover, temperatures will be slightly cooler on Thursday with many areas seeing temperatures rise into the 70s. The day will start slightly warmer with lows in the 50s.

Rainfall through the weekend should be light with many areas receiving less than a tenth of an inch.

An area of low pressure is expected to develop off the coast of the Carolinas this weekend. It possibly could become tropical before moving onshore early next week. With winds out of the east, moisture will build in, bringing the potential for heavy rain during the first half of the week. Breezy conditions are possible as well. The region could pick up one to three inches of rain Monday through Wednesday.

Elsewhere in the tropics, Francine is a 100 mph hurricane ahead of landfall in Louisiana. Tropical Depression 7 continues moving westward in the Atlantic and could become Tropical Storm Gordon by Thursday morning.

Temperatures for the week ahead will top out in the 70s. Overnight lows will increase as humidity rises.

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