Arctic air ushers in 16-degree lows and chances of snow for Charlotte. What to expect

An arctic air mass will settle over the Charlotte area on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, bringing lows in the mid teens and a chance of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

The odds of snow south of Interstate 85 are 30% Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning, forecasters said Monday, Jan. 20.

“Snow chances have decreased, but even very light accumulations could create slick spots on roads given very cold temperatures,” forecasters say.

Chances of miserable cold are a lot higher, with forecasters expecting highs of 33 degrees Tuesday and Wednesday, and lows of around 16 degrees both nights.

A warm up near the end of the week will be slow to arrive, with highs of 38 degrees on Thursday and 45 degrees on Friday.

This is the coldest weather seen so far this winter, experts say.

“This prolonged cold period meets the definition of a ‘cold wave.’ Its duration sets it apart from cold snaps of the kind we see multiple times each winter, and the associated impacts are expected to be more significant,” the National Weather Service says.

“The cold weather will result in high demand for electricity across the region. Power outages may result from the heavy electrical load. Those who require electricity for heating or medical equipment should consider backup heat or electrical sources.”

The North Carolina mountains will see highs only in the mid teens and lows of 3 and 4 degrees in coming days, forecasters say.

This story was originally published January 20, 2025 at 5:06 AM.