Cool & comfy weekend, heat returns Monday

Scattered showers and storms are slowly – but surely – clearing the WCCB Charlotte viewing area as we head into our Friday evening. Cooler and drier air filters into the Carolinas overnight into Saturday morning, but not before a few snow showers roll through the High Country. Lows will dip into the 20s, 30s, and 40s across the board to kick off the weekend. Anchored down by the chilly start, highs will struggle to clear the 40s and 50s Saturday afternoon, although most spots around the Metro and southward should find their way into the lower 60s. A very stray shower is possible northeast of the Queen City Saturday afternoon and evening, but partly-to-mostly sunny skies will largely prevail.

The real warm-up begins on Sunday. Despite another chilly night, highs will cruise near 70° across the Piedmont and Foothills to close out the weekend, while the mountains enjoy temperatures closer to 60°. The Carolinas will get hit by a blowtorch out of the southwest to kick off the workweek; highs will surge well into the 80s around the Metro on Monday ahead of a weak rainmaking system. The NC mountains will likely see scattered showers on Tuesday, but the incoming system will run out of moisture as it sweeps into the Piedmont. Outside of a few isolated showers or a stray storm, most of our area beyond the High Country will stay dry for the second day of the workweek. Cooler air makes another return by midweek, although highs should remain near 70° in Charlotte on Wednesday. Long-range models suggest warmer weather returns toward the back half of the week.

Tonight: Clouds and a few showers early, then clearing. Low: 44°. Wind: NW 5-15.

Saturday: Variable clouds. Cooler. High: 63°. Wind: NW 5-15.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Chilly. Low: 39°. Wind: NW 5-10.

Sunday: Sunny and comfy. High: 70°. Wind: NW 10-20. Gusts: W 5-10.