Janessa Webb

Nationally recognized Meteorologist Janessa Webb brings her passion for weather and storytelling to the WCCB Charlotte WeatherWise team, where she delivers accurate and engaging forecasts every weekday evening at 9 and 10 p.m.

Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Janessa’s passion for extreme weather began at an early age and has guided her through an extensive career in both national and local television. She returned to North Carolina after nearly four years in Washington, D.C., where she built a weather department from the ground up and served as Chief Meteorologist for several leading broadcasts.

Before that, Janessa was a Meteorologist for NBC News and MSNBC in New York City, appearing on programs such as Early Today, Morning Joe, NBC Nightly News, and The 11th Hour with Brian Williams. She also filled in for Al Roker on TODAY and previously served as a weekday meteorologist for WEWS-TV in Cleveland, Ohio. Webb spent her early years as a meteorologist in Anchorage, Alaska, at KYUR and KTVA for nearly nine years. She graduated from East Anchorage High School prior to studying at Winston-Salem State University and Mississippi State University.

Webb is a member of the National Weather Association, The American Meteorological Society, the National Association of Black Journalists. Webb has served as a mentor to young journalists throughout her career and believes strongly in giving back to the community.

When Webb isn’t tracking the weather, her faith and family remain the center of her life and foundation. She also has a passion for teaching and is a certified hot yoga instructor and personal trainer, she embraces an active lifestyle and loves a good adventure.

Articles

Major warm up moves in Tuesday

Tuesday is easily the standout of the week, bringing a taste of spring. Afternoon temperatures will climb close to 70 degrees, making it the warmest we’ve felt since early January. Expect plenty of sunshine for most of the day, with a few extra clouds sliding in later in the day. Cloud cover increases overnight, and with it comes the chance for a few hit-or-miss rain showers. Those clouds help keep temperatures from dropping too far, so Wednesday kicks off on a mild note with morning readings in the 50s.

Cold, snow and high winds across the High Country

A High Wind Warning continues for Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties through Saturday afternoon and evening, while a Wind Advisory stretches into the foothills, Piedmont and Sandhills. Even though the air will dry out, the gusts will be strong enough to make it feel even colder and could cause a few isolated issues like downed limbs.

Mountain snow and gusty conditions moving in

In the High Country a different pattern is developing with a Winter Weather Advisory in place starting tomorrow afternoon into early Saturday. Snow is expected through the day on Friday, where some spots could pick up around 1 to 2 inches of snow, and even higher totals likely at our ski areas. As of now, there are no widespread winter weather watches or advisories in place for the lower elevations.

Tracking rain, and snow with a drop in temperatures overnight

Thursday morning may start with a stray flurry, but otherwise it’s just cold and cloudy. We stay dry through the day, and while 40 degrees is possible, most neighborhoods will likely spend the afternoon in the mid to upper 30s. We may catch a little sunshine late in the day as clouds begin to thin out.

Warmer tonight as our next storm system moves in

Wednesday will be unsettled from start to finish. We’ll wake up to cloudy skies and scattered showers around the area, but the bigger story is what happens later in the day. Rain becomes more widespread during the afternoon.

Tracking a rain and a few flurries mid-week

Over the next couple of days, melting will continue across areas, especially where the sun can reach it. Shadier spots, as usual, will be slower to let go. Tonight we'll stay mostly clear with calm winds in the lower 20s. By Tuesday those higher elevations should finally break above freezing, with temperatures continuing to trend upward. Tuesday ends up being the warmest day in the short term, with many lower-elevation spots reaching the upper 40s to low 50s.

The latest on our Winter Storm

Looking ahead to the weekend, all eyes are on a system moving in from the south and west. Right now, the setup supports the chance that snow will move into the Charlotte area this weekend. While there’s still some wiggle room on exact snowfall totals, the current thinking supports at least an inch of snow for many. Combine that with gusty winds and plunging temperatures, and travel could become tricky from Saturday into Sunday. Area's east of Charlotte Metro appears more favored for accumulation at this point, but light snow is on the table for many as t1he weekend gets underway.

Chilly conditions with sunshine persist

Tonight, and Thursday bring a very slow improvement in temperatures, and even that comes with an asterisk. Afternoon highs will creep into the low to mid-40s, which sounds nice until you remember late January usually feels closer to the low 50s. So yes, it’s progress, just not the kind you really feel.

More cold continuing through the week

As we move into the middle of the week, temperatures begin a slow and steady climb with an emphasis on slow. Wednesday and Thursday bring a slightly milder air mass, allowing highs to inch into the low to mid-40s. While that’s technically warmer, it’s still running well below our typical late-January average in the low 50s. Expect a mix of clouds and sunshine during the day, paired with cold mornings as overnight lows hover near 20 degrees. Winter layers remain a daily necessity.

Bitter cold tomorrow morning

Tuesday morning is when the cold really shows up. Wind chills will dip in and out of the single digits, and actual air temperatures will around 10°. Tuesday morning will be the coldest morning of the week, and not just that, it’s the coldest morning of the season and the coldest we’ve had since December 24, 2022.