Charlotte and surrounding area residents are waking up to another brisk morning with temperatures in the low 20s, following a chilly Saturday that was efficient enough to dry most of the slush, and loose ice on the roads, thanks to ample sunshine and a supportive breeze. The current temperature in Charlotte, N.C., is a fair 23°F (-5°C) with calm winds of around 3 mph, contributing to a quiet, albeit frosty, start to the day.
With humidity levels at 81% and a barometer reading of 30.07 in (1020.5 mb), the National Weather Service forecasts sunny skies throughout today, with a pleasant shift to a 41-degree high. Although calm now, winds are expected to pick up, becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Tonight's forecast is similarly clear, with a projected low hovering around 24 degrees and continuing calm winds.
The week ahead promises a series of sunny days, with temperatures gradually climbing to a more comfortable high near 50 by Friday. However, the arrival of the weekend could bring about change, with a 30 percent chance of rain Friday night, and a 50 percent chance on Saturday, signaling a potential end to the clear skies streak.
The lingering concern, however, comes from a special weather statement released by the National Weather Service out of Greenville-Spartanburg, SC. "Patchy black ice through early Sunday morning," warns the statement, addressing the risk sprawling the region into the dawn of Sunday. With low temperatures at night set to harden any residual moisture, black ice becomes an insidious threat, particularly in "untreated bridges, overpasses, and sidewalks" which "will be the most prone to black ice," the report advisably notes.
Commuters are urged to exercise additional vigilance behind the wheel and are recommended to "slow down and leave plenty of room in front of you" to navigate the slick conditions more safely. Today's weather may be serene in its sunny disposition, yet it belies the evenings' icy gamble — a stark reminder of winter's latent bite.
