GREENSBORO, N.C. — We had a dry week across the Triad up until Friday when light showers started early in the morning due to a cold front passing through. Though we could see some clearing tonight, but another cold front tied with low pressure will bring more shower chances and even the possibility for a few rumbles of thunder Saturday evening. A few of the more convective thunderstorms could even drop small hail across the Piedmont.
Why might we see hail or graupel on Saturday?
Hail forms as a result of raindrops being carried upward through a thunderstorm's updraft into colder air where they freeze. They are able to grow by colliding with water droplets that freeze on their surface; eventually, the weight of the hail will exceed the force of the updraft and fall toward the surface.
Graupel forms by a different process and are commonly noted as a look-alike to Dippin' Dots. They're formed by partially melted snowflakes that collect supercooled water on its surface.
This is a snapshot of one model's prediction of how Saturday evening's showers and storms could appear. In stronger convective thunderstorms, evident by the darker shades of orange and red in the cells above, there will likely be an updraft which is fundamental in the process of making hail. Due to these tall showers and cold air, it doesn't take much to produce small hail or graupel. Saturday's showers also indicate a very low freezing level which makes hail easier to fall to the surface. That said, someone could end up with small hail in their yard or on their deck Saturday afternoon. Don't panic! Small pea-sized hail likely won't cause any damage. Skies will begin to clear later in the evening.
What about Sunday?
Sunday is a much different weather story behind the front. Mainly sunny skies are expected to return with highs in the lower 50s after a chilly start in the upper 20s in the morning.
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