Rain & snow to start workweek, cold snap continues

Snow is back on the menu for portions of North Carolina as we kick off December’s second week, but don’t expect anything measurable in the WCCB Charlotte viewing area outside of the mountains. Scattered rain is sweeping into the Carolinas this morning, which will quickly transition to all snow in the High Country by sunrise; the transition from wet to wintry will occur in the Piedmont as we roll closer to noon. Our mountain counties (Ashe, Avery, Watauga) can expect a healthy 1-4″ of snow with localized amounts approaching 6″. While a few lucky areas north of I-40 in Caldwell, Alexander, and Iredell could see close to an inch, most of the measurable snowfall outside of the mountains will be located much closer to the NC-VA border. The Queen City will see mainly rain throughout the morning, but a few flurries could find their way along I-85 in the afternoon.

Outside of the wrap-around flurries, most of the moisture exits the WCCB Charlotte viewing area to the northeast by the mid-afternoon hours. While sleet and freezing rain won’t be an issue today, we’ll need to watch for black ice across the board Tuesday morning as lows dip into the teens and 20s across the board. Highs will struggle to get much above 40° around the Metro for our second day of the workweek. Temperatures warm closer to average on Wednesday before another cold front strikes the Carolinas from the northwest, leading to more cold air and mountain snow by Thursday’s end. The weekend ahead looks chilly, but largely dry, with highs in the 30s, 40s, and lower 50s.

Monday: AM rain/snow. PM overcast with a stray flurry. High: 40°. Wind: NE 5-15. Gusts: 20+

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy with some clearing late. Black ice possible. Low: 26°. Wind: NE 5-15.

Tuesday: AM variable clouds. PM mostly sunny. High: 42°. Wind: SW 5-10.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear. Chilly. Low: 32°. Wind: SW 5-15.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny and breezy. Noticeably warmer. High: 54°. Wind: SW 10-20. Gusts: 25+