Big chill Friday morning, first frost of season possible for High Country

It hasn’t exactly felt like fall in the Carolinas as of late, but Mother Nature will give us a stark reminder that summer is over as we wake up Friday morning. Much cooler and drier air is filtering into the Carolinas this Thursday afternoon as winds from the northeast make it difficult for many of us to clear the 50s and 60s. While highs may barely eke out into the lower 70s around the Metro, a major chill lurks as we head into the final day of the workweek. Lows will bottom out in the 30s and 40s for most communities Friday morning as the coldest air we’ve seen since April 17th – 175 days ago – crashes into the Carolinas. The first frost of the season is possible for communities above 3500′ as wind chills may dip into the upper 20s at times.

While most of us remain dry this weekend, we’ll want to watch for a coastal low developing well to our east over the coming days. A few showers may find their way into the eastern reaches of the Metro on Saturday and Sunday as the system rides along the Carolina coastline, bringing heavy rain and potential erosion to North Carolina beaches in particular. Highs will top out in the mid-to-lower 70s in the Queen City this weekend as variable clouds take to the skies. The warmer trend appears to win out next week as afternoon temperatures reach into the lower 80s by next Wednesday.

Today: Sunny and breezy. High: 72°. Wind: NE 10-20. Gusts: 25+

Tonight: Clear. Brisk with patchy mountain frost. Low: 49°. Wind: NE 5-15.

Friday: Another breezy day with cool sunshine. High: 70°. Wind: NE 5-15. Gusts: 20+

Friday Night: Chilly. Clouds build. Low: 53°. Wind: NE 5-15.

Saturday: Cloudy with a stray shower E. High: 73°. Wind: NE 10-20. Gusts: 25+