AM Headlines: Cloudy and Cool Start to the Week Warming Up, Increased Rain Chances Watching the Tropics Discussion: A wedge will remain locked in today leading to cloudy skies and spotty drizzle for the mountains and foothills. Highs will range from the upper 50s in the mountains to the upper 60s across the Piedmont this afternoon. Clouds overnight will keep temps above average in the mid 50s this evening. High pressure over the northeast will begin to nudge off the coast, leading to a break in the cloud cover for Election Day with temps warming into the low 70s across the Piedmont. Isolated rain chances remain Tuesday. The wedge will break down fully by midweek, but as moisture streams out of the southeast we will see increased rain chances Wednesday and Thursday as a series of upper level disturbances track through the area. Temperatures will warm up into the mid to upper 70s — well above average for this time of year. Late week we will be keeping an eye on the tropics. Potential Tropical Cyclone 18 will likely become Tropical Storm Rafael later today. It will likely strengthen into a hurricane by midweek, passing over Cuba Wednesday and into the Gulf of Mexico toward LA/TX late week. Although the Carolinas won’t see any direct impacts from Rafael, there is potential for an approaching cold front late week to tap into the moisture stream from this storm into the Gulf bringing better rain chances to the region. It will be something to watch. As of now, keeping rain chances slim Friday and Saturday with highs in the low 70s with a slightly cooler, but still above average forecast for Sunday with temperatures reaching the upper 60s.