Charlotte residents, brace yourselves for an upcoming shift in weather as the National Weather Service (NWS) in Charlotte, NC, has forecasted a sunny day today with the temperature climbing to a mild 42 degrees and calm winds picking up to around 6 mph in the afternoon. According to the NWS forecast, the chilly start at 24°F with a wind chill factor making it feel like 18°F is just a prelude to what's coming later in the week. Tonight is slightly cooler, with mostly clear skies and a low around 19.
The rest of the week promises to carry similar weather, with sunny skies Thursday and a high near 40. However, Friday is looking to quickly shift gears with a 40 percent chance of snow expected to start after 2pm and the calm atmosphere is anticipated to eventually give way to south southwest winds reaching around 6 mph. By Friday night, we’re looking at a mix of snow and sleet before 11 pm, then sleet, followed by freezing rain after midnight. The chance of precipitation then ramps up to 90%.
According to the latest Hazardous Weather Outlook provided by the National Weather Service, there's no immediate cause for concern today or tonight. But keep your winter gear at hand as significant accumulations are possible from the wintry mix that’s expected to hit Friday and last until early Saturday. Specific precipitation types and amounts are still uncertain at the moment, but it’s good to prepare for what's on the horizon.
For those planning ahead, the outlook for Saturday includes a chance of freezing rain before 7 am but moves towards mostly sunny with a high near 42. The Hazardous Weather Outlook from the NWS states that "Wintry precipitation is expected to develop across much of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia Friday afternoon through early Saturday." So, it might be wise to ready to adapt plans accordingly and stay tuned for updates as the week progresses.
No spotter activation is required at this time, as reported by the NWS, but residents in and around Charlotte should remain vigilant and monitor the latest weather reports to stay informed.
