Rain all day Thursday for Charlotte, then it clears out

Most of the Charlotte region can expect at least an inch of rain Thursday, which could produce flooding in low-lying or poor-drainage areas, according to the National Weather Service in Greer, S.C.

At least it will be unseasonably warm, with a forecast high of 65. And the showers should move from the region by late Thursday or early Friday.

Thursday could also see thunderstorms after 2 p.m. and patchy fog between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Afternoon winds could gust as high as 20 mph in some areas.

Friday should see decreasing clouds, with a high of 57, and all sunshine is on the way for Saturday and Sunday. It will turn colder, however, with a high of only 50 forecast for Saturday.

Temperatures are then expected to climb again, with forecast highs of 54 Sunday, 59 Monday, 65 Tuesday and 69 Wednesday.

The longest-range weather models show that Christmas Day could near 68, NWS meteorologist Harry Gerapetritis said.

“There is an outside chance for 70, but I wouldn’t want to hazard that at this point,” Gerapetritis said Thursday morning.

Weather models don’t show temperatures that high for Christmas, he said, “but we still could make a run at it.”

The record high for Christmas Day is 77, set in 1955, Gerapetritis said. Christmas Eve’s record high of 71 was recorded in 1982, he said. The normal high for both days is 51.

Charlotte could approach the Christmas Eve record next week, “but the record for the 25th looks a little out of reach,” he said.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 6:10 AM with the headline "Rain all day Thursday for Charlotte, then it clears out."