Russell James

North Carolina

Weekend Meteorologist at WITN-TV (Greenville, NC)

Weekend Meteorologist at WITN-TV #ECU19 Greenville, NC B.S. in Applied Atmospheric Science M.S in Geography

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Articles

Russell’s First Alert Forecast: Rain with occasional breaks throughout the day

1 day ago | witn.com | Russell James

A soaking rain event is on the way for Eastern North Carolina, and it could spell trouble for your Thursday commute and outdoor plans. A weak but moisture-rich area of low pressure is inching closer to the coast tonight and will bring widespread rain and embedded thunderstorms through Thursday. Expect the first wave of rain to arrive before sunrise, especially across the South Inland and Crystal Coast Areas.
Russell’s First Alert Forecast: From sunshine to tropical soakers late week

3 days ago | witn.com | Russell James

After a beautiful and dry start to the week, we will start to an increase in humidity, harboring cloud cover and rain chances by Thursday. The remainder of the afternoon will stay on the pleasant side, with highs climbing into the low to mid-80s inland and 70s at the beaches under mostly sunny skies. Light winds will turn southeasterly as high pressure slides offshore, helping bump overnight lows into the upper 50s and 60s.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires create hazy skies across ENC

4 days ago | witn.com | Russell James

If you’ve noticed hazy skies, vivid sunrises and sunsets over Eastern North Carolina in recent days, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. The cause? Smoke from large wildfires burning across southern Canada, carried aloft and transported thousands of miles by high-altitude winds. How Does This Happen? Wildfire smoke can travel long distances when upper-level wind patterns and atmospheric conditions align just right.
Russell’s First Alert Forecast: Hazy skies and low humidity

4 days ago | witn.com | Russell James

Eastern North Carolina kicks off the week with a refreshing change. A light northerly breeze behind a backdoor front is pulling in drier air, making today feel noticeably more comfortable. Sunshine dominates for most, but smoke from the Canadian wildfires may lead to hazy skies across the region. Temperatures today stay seasonable, with highs in the 70s for the OBX and low 80s inland.
Russell’s First Alert Forecast: Brief chance of a shower or storm tonight

5 days ago | witn.com | Russell James

A spotty storm or two could pack a punch across Eastern North Carolina this evening into the overnight hours. A weak low pressure system and frontal boundary will pass through the region, bringing enough instability and moisture. The main concerns will be gusty winds up to 50 mph and small hail The window for storms stretches from 7 PM to midnight, mainly south of Highway 264 before shifting toward the coast.
Russell’s First Alert Forecast: Low severe storm risk tonight

6 days ago | witn.com | Russell James

A cold front is moving through Eastern North Carolina today, and it’s bringing a chance for a few strong thunderstorms later this afternoon and evening. While our atmosphere isn’t overloaded with moisture or instability, there’s enough energy combined with strong wind shear to support a low risk for severe storms. The main concerns? Damaging wind gusts and large hail. By midnight, the front clears the coast, and a shot of cooler, drier air pours in behind it, setting us up for a stellar Sunday.
Russell’s First Alert Forecast: Rain and Storms Ahead

1 week ago | witn.com | Russell James

Clouds continue to thicken today across Eastern North Carolina as a stalled front to our south begins to lift north. A developing low-pressure system riding along that front will draw in deep moisture and set the stage for an extended stretch of unsettled weather. Expect light rain and drizzle to pick up in coverage through the afternoon, with widespread rain likely by this evening. The real action starts tonight, as the warm front surges north and instability increases.
Russell’s First Alert Forecast: Daily rain chances through late week

1 week ago | witn.com | Russell James

The umbrellas aren’t going back into the closet just yet. A stalled front to our south continues to pump in moisture and will remain a player through the rest of the workweek. Off-and-on showers and even a few thunderstorms will be possible each day, especially Tuesday through Thursday as deeper moisture moves in and a warm front lifts north. Tuesday brings the best coverage of rain to inland areas during the afternoon and evening.
Russell’s First Alert Forecast: Periods of rain and cooler temps stick around

1 week ago | witn.com | Russell James

Rain returns just in time for Memorial Day, as a series of lows develop along a stalled front near the region. We will see showers spread into Eastern North Carolina tonight and through the first half of Monday. The steadiest rain will fall early in the day, with pockets of moderate to heavy rain possible during the morning and midday hours. On top of the wet weather, gusty northeast winds will develop—especially near the coast—where gusts could reach 20–30 mph.
Russell’s First Alert Forecast: 50s and scattered clouds tonight

1 week ago | witn.com | Russell James

A calm Saturday evening will give way to a more active weather pattern beginning Sunday. A weak cold front will lift back northward as a warm front, bringing increasing cloud cover and a rising chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms Sunday afternoon. The greatest rain and storm potential—will be concentrated south of the Highway 70 corridor.