Chilly Start to 2024

Happy New Year! It’s certainly going to feel like winter for 2024’s first week. Expect near-average highs in the 40s and 50s this Tuesday afternoon with plentiful sunshine. Lows will largely bottom out in the 20s across the area as we wake up on Wednesday. More clouds will build throughout our Hump Day as a weak disturbance slides to our south. Rain chances aren’t particularly high; most along and north of I-40 should stay dry, but areas around the Metro should see a few scattered showers Wednesday evening. A few sleet pellets or wet flakes may mix in with the rain, but nothing will stick. The remainder of the workweek looks dry and sunny with highs hanging around 50° in Charlotte.

The first weekend of the year is where things get interesting. A powerful rainmaking system is poised to develop by the end of the week, picking up Gulf moisture as it lifts northeast. High pressure to our north will give us some marginally cold air ahead of this storm. It remains to be seen if we’ll get enough cold air to see any major impacts, but rain appears to be the dominant precipitation type as it stands right now. That said, a wet mix early Saturday morning as the system’s front end arrives is on the table. Cold air will stick around behind the storm into the second week of the year.

Today: Chilly sunshine. High: 51°. Wind: NW 5-10.

Tuesday Night: Clear and cold. Low: 29°. Wind: SW 5-10.

Wednesday: AM sunshine. PM clouds build. High: 53°. Wind: SW 5-10.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers S. Sleet possible. Low: 35°. Wind: W 5-10.

Thursday: Mainly sunny. High: 51°. Wind: NW 5-15. Gusts: 20+