Weather Extra: Just a bit of snow
CMS goes all-remote on Friday, with teacher workday Monday
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No big snowstorm coming, but frigid temperatures are on the way
by Steve Lyttle
We’re all looking for a little certainty in life. Those “sunny, hot and humid, with a high of 95” forecasts never fail to materialize in July, right?
On the other hand, there’s the Charlotte-area forecast for Friday afternoon and night. Earlier in the week, it seemed as if we were destined to get another winter storm. Over the last 36 hours, the computer models steered away from that idea, predicting the significant snow, sleet and freezing rain would fall well to our east.
And that’s still the idea — officially. But there are some signs this evening that we might not have the Friday/Saturday system pinned down accurately.
Officially, the forecast for the immediate Charlotte area Friday and early Saturday is for a dusting of snow. But Thursday evening’s run of the RGEM model, a Canadian-designed weather model that focuses on short-term forecasts, showed 2-2.5 inches of snow falling in Mecklenburg County. A few of the other short-term models are showing 1-2 inches in the county.
Eric Webb, a meteorologist who studied at UNC Charlotte and N.C. State, made an interesting point this evening on Twitter. He said it’s possible that the difference between no snow and a few inches of the white stuff in some Piedmont locales might be decided a few thousand feet off the ground. Webb wrote that at least one of the models with a relatively snow-less forecast is predicting that a layer of dry air will form between the ground and the bottom of the clouds. That dry air would, in theory, evaporate any snow that falls.
Ice storm at the coast: So the amount of snow that Charlotte — or some other Piedmont location — receives Friday afternoon and night might depend on whether or not that dry layer forms. One thing looks more certain: a major ice storm near the coast. If you’re down there, or have interests down there, plan for problems.
But for now, here’s the forecast:
Thursday night: Light rain will become intermittent after midnight and could change to sleet or snow for a while. Little or no accumulation is expected, however. It will be colder, with a low of 26.
Friday: Overcast, with a chilly northwest breeze, and bitterly cold for this part of the country, with a high of 29. Snow flurries are possible in the afternoon and evening, with full-fledged snow showers possible in eastern Cabarrus and eastern Union counties. This part of the forecast is subject to change.
Friday night: Cloudy and cold, with a few snow showers. The snow should end by 3 or 4 a.m., followed by partial clearing. Quite cold, with a low of 19.
Saturday: Sunshine, mixed with a few clouds. Cold again, with a high of 37.
Saturday night: Clear and cold. Low of 17.
Sunday: Sunny and not as harsh. High of 44.
Sunday night: Clear and cold. Low of 22.
Monday: It’s a teacher workday in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The kids will be able to get outdoors, as it will be sunny with a high near 50.
Tuesday: A mix of sun and clouds, with a few showers arriving in the afternoon. High around 50.
Wednesday: Sunshine and colder. High of 43.
Steve Lyttle is a longtime Charlotte-area weather writer with a passion for meteorology and delivering smart, insightful updates that aim to inform and educate. Follow his “Weather With Steve” Facebook page for daily updates on Charlotte weather.
CMS goes remote on Friday
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Contributing photographer/videographer: Kevin Young, The 5 and 2 Project
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