Feeling Like December

December is off to a relatively warm start, but it will feel much more like winter over the next few days. Highs will top out near normal values this afternoon in the upper 50s and lower 60s across the Piedmont and Foothills, while the High Country settles in closer to 40°. An incoming storm system will clip the mountains this evening, bringing what should be the first significant snowfall event of the season. While areas below 4500′ will likely end up with under an inch of the white stuff, areas above may see a healthy 1-3″, with locally higher amounts possible through Wednesday night. A stray rain shower or two is possible in the Piedmont over the next 48 hours, but most communities will stay dry through the remainder of the workweek. Despite mostly sunny skies, highs will struggle to clear the lower 50s across the Metro on Wednesday and Thursday.

Warmer air filters back into the Carolinas by Friday. Afternoon temperatures will return to the 60s as southwesterly winds establish themselves across our area. The first half of the weekend looks warm and mainly dry ahead of an incoming cold front that crashes in on Sunday. Rain chances sharply rise into the weekend’s second half. The potential for some rumbles of thunder is there, but models have significantly backed off on the prospect of severe weather on our side of the Carolinas. Cold and dry air returns to start next week.

Tuesday: Cool sunshine. High: 59°. Wind: NE to SW 5-10.

Tuesday Night: Variable clouds. Getting cold. Low: 35°. Wind: NW 5-10.

Wednesday: Sunny and blustery. High: 53°. Wind: NW 10-20. Gusts: 25+

Wednesday Night: Another cold night. Low: 29°. Wind: NW 5-10.

Thursday: Chilly sunshine. High: 53°. Wind: SW 5-10.