20-degree drop in temperatures heads to Charlotte, snow possible in parts of Piedmont

The nearly 20-degree drop in temperatures headed to the Charlotte region Tuesday could bring brief periods of snow to parts of the Piedmont, according to the National Weather Service.

A “flash freeze” and inches of snow is likely in the mountains, the NWS predicts.

On Tuesday, forecasters broadened their predictions to say they cannot rule out a brief mixture of rain and snow in northern parts of the Piedmont and the foothills. However, wind chills in the teens are the bigger concern across parts the Piedmont Tuesday night.

It will be cold enough for people to experience hypothermia if they venture out without proper clothing (hat, scarf, gloves), according to AccuWeather.

The stark shift in weather is due to an incoming arctic air mass that will cause temperatures to tumble from 52 degrees to 23 Tuesday and 26 on Wednesday, forecasters say.

Temperatures will start to dive around 2 p.m., when west winds will pick up and gusts will reach the 24 mph range.

“Wind gusting to 30 to 40 mph will also yield afternoon wind chills ranging from the teens and lower 20s in the valleys, to the single digits in the higher elevations, with wind chills falling into the single digits (or below 0 across the high elevations) across all of the mountains Tuesday night,” the National Weather Service says.

The rapid change could result in snow in the mountains between 5 a.m and 8 a.m., “with totals ranging from dusting to one half inch across the valleys, to as much as 3 inches in the high elevations.”

It’s possible the rapid drop in temperatures could also cause “flash freeze” conditions above 3,500 feet, as well as the potential for a brief period of sleet/FZRA (freezing rain),” the National Weather Service says.

This story was originally published November 11, 2019 at 7:09 AM.