Combo of front, tropical system could bring rain to NC next week

Highs Wednesday will once again climb into the mid-80s, some 5 to 10 degrees above normal, as sunshine dominates across the state. 

"We're going to see this warming trend the rest of the work week and at least on Saturday, when our highs could be in the upper 80s," Gardner said. "We'll start to see things change on Sunday afternoon as a cold front moves closer to the area."

The timing of the cold front's arrival is yet to be determined, as is a possible threat from a tropical disturbance in the western Caribbean Sea. If the storm organizes and strengthens, it would become Tropical Storm Karen. 

Models on Wednesday showed a track that could bring the storm into the Gulf of Mexico, into southern Florida and Georgia and eventually into the Carolinas. 

"We're still a few days away on this, and it's hard to tell yet if this storm will get together and become a named system," Gardner said. "If it does, however, our rain totals late Sunday and Monday could go up."

Regardless of whether tropical moisture is a part of the forecast Monday, the area will still have a good chance for measurable precipitation thanks to the cold front. The rain will also push temperatures back to near 80 degrees on Monday and Tuesday.