GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) -A cold air mass moves into the region tonight, bringing dangerously cold wind chills to the mountains. Meanwhile, models increasingly hint at a more impactful winter weather system moving through the region this weekend.
Today & Tonight: Brutal Cold Wind Chills in the Mountains
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a sunny but chilly one. Highs are in the upper 40s to the low 50s in the Upstate which is about 5° below normal. For the mountains, we top out in the low to mid 40s which is 5-10° below normal. It’s also breezy with winds gusting 20-30 mph making it feel even colder.
A strong Canadian high-pressure system pushes frigid air into the Carolinas this evening. A Cold Weather Advisory takes effect at 9 p.m. Monday through noon Tuesday for areas above 3500′ in Yancey and Mitchell counties where wind chills drop as low as -10°.
Western North Carolina Mountains: Temperatures drop to the teens and single digits. Wind chills dip into the single digits in the valleys to as low as -10° in the higher elevations.
Upstate South Carolina: Lows drop to the low to mid 20s.
What to do: Bring pets inside, protect pipes, and limit time outside. If you must venture out, wear layers and cover all exposed skin.
Tuesday: Sunny But Still Cold
Tuesday brings mostly sunny skies, but temperatures remain well below normal across the Western Carolinas.
Western North Carolina Mountains: Highs in the mid to upper 30s. Winds die down after 9 AM, but wind chills first thing in the morning keep it feeling like sub zero to around 10°.
Upstate South Carolina: Highs in the mid 40s…