Charlotte region to see steep drop in temperatures with wind gusts, NWS says

Wind gusts of more than 30 mph are expected in the Charlotte area Monday, followed by a steep drop in temperatures that will linger the rest of the week, according to the National Weather Service.

The Tuesday high of 44 degrees will be nearly 20 degrees lower than Monday’s high, forecasters say. And nightly lows Monday and Tuesday will be well below freezing, in the mid 20s.

Winds could gust as high as 32 mph in the Charlotte area, while the mountains could see gusts of 60 mph, forecasters say. Wind chills in Charlotte and Rock Hill will be around 19 degrees Monday night.

“After an extended period of warm weather, that abruptly ends by Monday night as a strong cold front will bring in a very cold air mass with lows in the teens and twenties,” the National Weather Service reports.

“Wind chill values will range from as much as 5 below zero across portions of the mountains to the teens and twenties across the Piedmont and foothills.”

Wind chills of minus 3 degrees are expected in the northwest corner of the state, the NWS says.

Overnight lows could drop 5-10 degrees below normal, and the “brisk, gusty winds and low relative humidity” will increase the risk of wildfire, officials say.

Highs in the Charlotte region this week will be in the mid 50s much of the week, with lows in the 30s.

This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 6:16 AM.