Freeze watch posted for Charlotte region late Saturday, early Sunday
The Charlotte region can expect freezing conditions late Saturday and early Sunday, with the low forecast to plummet to a record-tying 28 degrees at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Saturday is forecast to reach a high of only 54 during the day, according to the National Weather Service in Greer, S.C. The normal high is 70.
The weather service has issued a freeze watch for Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, Gaston and Lincoln counties late Saturday and early Sunday. That means temperatures could be low enough to kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.
Temperatures are forecast to be even lower in Iredell, Catawba and other counties to the north, where a hard freeze watch is in effect. Catawba and Iredell can expect a low of 26 early Sunday, according to the latest NWS forecast.
Causing the low temperatures is a polar air mass expected to settle over the region with clear skies and calming winds early Sunday.
Temperatures are then expected to rise as quickly as they fell.
The weekend should be mostly sunny, however.
While Sunday could see a high of only 58, early Monday’s low is forecast to improve to 42.
Monday could see a high of 73 and Tuesday 71. The next chance for showers is Tuesday. The chance of rain stands at 70 percent.
Joe Marusak: 704-358-5067, @jmarusak
This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 6:14 AM with the headline "Freeze watch posted for Charlotte region late Saturday, early Sunday."