Charlotte woke up to clear skies and a cool chill in the air Monday morning, April 6, with temperatures sitting in the mid 40s. By afternoon, look for a mix of sun and clouds and a high near 67°F, along with a light north northwest breeze. Clouds fill in more tonight, and the low should dip to around 48°F.
Afternoon Into Tonight
Partly sunny skies are expected to hang on through the afternoon, and the breeze should stay on the gentle side, generally 2 to 8 mph from the north northwest, so it will feel more like a mild spring day than a wind tunnel. Across the Charlotte metro, afternoon highs climb into the upper 60s before sliding back into the upper 40s overnight, according to the National Weather Service.
Midweek Fire Weather Risk
A drier air mass moves in Tuesday, April 7, and hangs around through Wednesday, April 8. That setup could drop afternoon relative humidity into the mid 20s while winds pick up and become gusty. It is the kind of combo that dries out grasses, leaves and brush in a hurry and makes any outdoor burning a bad idea.
North Carolina’s statewide open burning ban, issued March 28, is still in effect, so burn piles and backyard bonfires will need to wait. For statewide rules and updates, check the N.C. Department of Agriculture, and for a reminder of how fast things can escalate, see our earlier coverage on when red flag winds ripped through Charlotte.
What To Do
For now, the advice is simple: hit pause on any yard pile burns and stick with sealed gas grills instead of wood fires or open flames while the ban and dry stretch continue. Be cautious with lawn equipment and trailers that might throw sparks, keep a charged hose or fire extinguisher nearby just in case, and store cool ash only in metal containers. If you see smoke or a fire starting to get away from you or your neighbors, call 911 right away.
Looking Ahead
Tuesday, April 7, should turn sunnier with a high near 69°F. Wednesday, April 8, trends a bit cooler, with a high near 64°F, but winds shift to the east northeast and strengthen, with gusts up to around 20 mph possible in spots. After that, temperatures rebound later in the week, reaching the mid 70s by Friday, April 10, and low 80s Saturday and Sunday, April 11 and 12. The seven day outlook shows little chance for measurable rain, so plan on a dry stretch through next weekend, and keep that fire risk in the back of your mind even as the sunshine returns.
