Record highs possible to close out workweek, waffling rain chances this weekend

Happy Friday Eve! We’re off to a very mild start this Thursday morning, as lows have only bottomed out in the 50s & 60s across the board. Highs will swell into the mid-70s for most across the Piedmont & Foothills after a few showers roll through before noon. Expect partly-to-mostly cloudy skies later in the day; ongoing southwesterly winds will fuel our warm-up. The Queen City takes another step in the warmer direction Friday afternoon, as highs likely sail into record territory near 80°. A passing cold front could bring a few showers and storms into the afternoon, but most locations remain dry as we wrap up the workweek.

The aforementioned front likely stalls just to our south after passing through the WCCB Charlotte viewing area, keeping rain chances around through the weekend. While no single day ahead will be a washout, we’ll want to watch for scattered showers and storms at times on Saturday and Sunday, especially to the south of the Metro. Significantly colder air will filter into the Carolinas, as well; highs will top out in the mid-60s across the Piedmont & Foothills on Saturday before struggling to clear the 40s on Sunday.

Even colder air arrives to kick off next week; lows will dip below freezing across the board as we wake up on Monday. Highs will only reach into the 30s and lower 40s for our first afternoon of February’s final workweek. Temperatures gradually recover as we wrap up the month, but don’t expect a return to the 80s anytime soon.

Today: AM cloudy with a few showers. PM variable clouds. High: 74°. Wind: SW 10-20. Gusts: 25+

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a stray shower. Very mild. Low: 63°. Wind: SW 5-15.

Friday: Variable clouds with a stray shower. Record highs likely. High: 78°. Wind: SW 10-20. Gusts: 25+

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy and a bit cooler. A few showers late. Low: 53°. Wind: W 5-10.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with scattered thundershowers, mainly to the south. High: 62°. Wind: NE 5-10.