30-degree temperature drop is bringing lows in the 20s to North Carolina

Tuesday’s highs in the mid 60s dropped into the 30s overnight in North Carolina, and it’s going to get even colder in coming days, according to the National Weather Service.

The quick shift in weather was worse in the Raleigh-Durham region, with a drop from 69 degrees to 30 degrees Tuesday night.

Storms that hit the state Tuesday preceded a cold front that will see temperatures fall as low as 26 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday nights in the Charlotte area, forecasters say.

In the Raleigh area, temperatures will fall to a low of 23 degrees Wednesday and Thursday, forecasters say.

Highs across the state will likely not surpass 51 degrees through Sunday.

North Carolina mountains will see temperatures drop even lower: 22 on Wednesday and 26 on Thursday, forecasters say.

Precipitation is not expected, so snow is not in the forecast.

However, forecasters were warning drivers in the mountains to be alert for black ice on roads through noon Wednesday, after the state was hit Tuesday with hours of heavy rain.

Wind gusts during the storm reached nearly 44 mph in the western part of the state, forecasters said.

“Winds remain rather gusty in the higher mountain elevations and across the valleys,” the National Weather Service said Wednesday. “Most roadways are likely dry due to the strong winds.”

This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 5:33 AM.