FORECAST: Matthew churns north as rain falls in Charlotte region

FRIDAY AND WEEKEND OUTLOOK: Clouds and light rain will continue across the Carolinas throughout the day on Friday. The extra cloud cover and breezy conditions will hold temperatures to near 70 degrees Friday afternoon.

Any Friday night football games will have to deal with periods of light rain and breezy conditions.

Temperatures Friday night won't drop much, staying in the middle 60s to start the day on Saturday.

Showers will continue for the morning and midday hours, especially along and east of Interstate 77. A Flash Flood Watch remains for our South Carolina counties, as well as Union, Anson and Richmond counties until Saturday evening.

Conditions will start to dry out Saturday evening and overnight into Sunday morning. A lingering shower for the start of the Bank of America 500 can't be ruled out, but rain will slowly dissipate throughout the evening hours.

In total, around an inch of rain is possible for the Charlotte area, with totals closer to 1-3 inches for those under a Flash Flood Watch.

Looking ahead to Sunday, expect mostly sunny conditions with highs in the mid-70s -- the pick day of the weekend. Expect some breezy conditions to linger through the end of the weekend.

Once Hurricane Matthew pushes out of our region, temperatures will take a major dip, with overnight lows heading into the upcoming work week dropping into the upper 40s. Highs Monday and Tuesday will both stay in the upper 60s under a mostly sunny sky.

TRACKING MATTHEW: Hurricane Matthew is still a Category 3 storm, with 120 mph winds as it churns along the Florida coast.

The storm is still expected to impact the Georgia and South Carolina coastline early Saturday morning as it weakens to a Category 1 by the time it reaches the North Carolina coast.

The storm will push northeast off the Georgia and South Carolina coast before turning out to sea then southward Saturday night into Sunday and early next week.

Heavier bands of rain will be across I-77, meaning a bit more rain for the immediate Metro ( 1 ½ inches) with amounts quickly ramping up (3 – 5 inches-plus toward Chesterfield and Richmond counties.

There is a flood watch is in effect there in that area.

Weather Resources:

• Track the rain with WSOC-TV weather app
• Explore the interactive radar

Cox Media Group