Return of the winter wedge

The sunshine is fading quickly this Saturday as clouds re-establish their dominance over the Carolinas ahead of an incoming storm system. Lows will remain above the 32º in the Piedmont and Foothills, but temperatures may briefly dip below freezing in the High Country as moisture approaches from the west Sunday morning. A light wintry mix will begin in the High Country before transitioning to rain shortly after sunrise; everywhere else will only see rain. Highs will struggle to get much above 40º across the Metro and northwest thanks to clouds, off-and-on showers, and northeasterly winds throughout the day. While it certainly won’t be a beautiful day, Sunday won’t be a washout, either – most communities will only see around a tenth of an inch of rain, while a few spots southeast of the Metro won’t see any rain at all.

Monday’s forecast will be tricky. The wedge remains in place in the morning and will stubbornly cede ground to warmer air by the afternoon. Exactly how much ground the wedge gives up – and when – will be key. While some areas south of the Queen City will easily soar into the 60s, others to the north will once again struggle to get out of the 40s. Regardless of what happens on Monday, the warmth surges back into the WCCB Charlotte viewing area on Tuesday. Highs may end up near 70º around the Metro and southeast for the second day of the workweek. Another cold front arrives by Thursday, bringing another shot of midweek rain followed by a sharp cooldown to close out the week.

Tonight: Overcast. Stray shower late? Low: 38°. Wind: NE 5-15.

Sunday: Cloudy with a few showers. Chilly. High: 44°. Wind: NE 5-10.

Sunday Night: Rain tapers off. Remaining cloudy. Low: 41°. Wind: NE 5-10.

Monday: Mostly cloudy. 40s possible N, 60s likely S. High: 55°. Wind: Light.