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Snow-lovers were treated to plenty of the white stuff in North Carolina’s mountains, but milder days are ahead for the Charlotte region.
Forecasters are expecting temperatures to reach the low 60s Tuesday and Wednesday, and even though slightly cooler weather will return later in the week, nothing too chilly is predicted for the next seven days.
Several small low pressure systems crossed the Appalachians over the weekend, leaving enough snow to close schools Monday in several North Carolina counties.
Systems in Ashe, Avery, Watauga and Yancey counties were closed, and students at Appalachian State University, Lees-McRae College, Mayland Community College and Caldwell Community College’s Watauga campus had delayed openings.
The National Weather Service reported up to 12 inches of snow fell at Beech Mountain in Watauga County and near the town of Marshall in Madison County. Other snowfall totals included 9 inches at Sugar Grove in Watauga County and 8 inches at Newland in Avery County.
Roads were snow-covered and slippery much of the weekend, but conditions improved Monday with the return of partial sunshine.
Another round of precipitation is expected Monday night, but only light amounts of sleet or snow are forecast for the mountains.
In the Piedmont, conditions are chilly Monday, with plenty of clouds. Forecasters expect high temperatures in the upper 40s, but this likely will be the coolest day of the week.
Morning lows were quite cold across the area, with Charlotte recording 25 degrees. It dropped to 23 in Salisbury, and 24 in Albemarle and Wadesboro. Lows of 25 were recorded in Gastonia, Lancaster and Rock Hill.
Once clouds clear early Tuesday, much milder weather is predicted. Highs are expected to reach the lower 60s Tuesday and Wednesday.
A weak cold front will drop highs back in the low 50s Thursday, but those readings will recover to the upper 50s by Friday.
