GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – Big changes are ahead as we go from mild days through Wednesday followed by an arctic blast arriving Friday. Saturday morning is a First Alert Weather Day for the first widespread frost of the season in the Upstate and first first for the mountain valleys.
Mild for a Couple More Days
If you like the warmer weather, soak up these next few days. Temperatures climb to the low to mid 70s in the Upstate both Tuesday and for Veteran’s Day. The mountains peak in the upper 60s to the low 70s. It feels more like early fall than mid-November. It’s still cool in the mornings with lows in the 30s and 40s so keep those layers handy.
The Transition: Thursday and Friday
A cold front moves through Thursday, bringing a chance for precipitation, gusty winds and a dramatic temperature drop.
There’s a chance for a few spotty showers Wednesday night into Thursday morning as quick moving cold front sweeps through. The rain is light and very minimal. Many in the Upstate won’t see a drop of rain. For North Carolina, light showers linger into the northern mountains.
By Thursday night, cold air comes rushing in, lowering snow levels to valley floors. Light snow is possible early Friday before drying out into the afternoon. The northern valleys pick up a dusting if anything while some of the higher elevations could get a couple of inches.
Expect wind gusts up to 25 mph across the Upstate and up to 30 mph in the mountains on Thursday. Winds ease in the Upstate on Friday, however gusts of 30-35 mph still linger in the mountains making it feel even chillier.
Temperatures start pleasant on Thursday for the Upstate, topping out in the mid to upper 60s which is still a few degrees above normal. In the mountains, more cloud cover keeps highs a bit below normal, topping out in the upper 50s. But this is just the beginning of the cooler trend.
By Friday, a reinforcing cold front ushers in an arctic air mass. Highs drop to the mid 50s in the Upstate giving us our first taste of winter. For the mountains, its an even bigger drop with highs only in the mid 40s.
🚨 First Alert Weather Day: First Widespread Frost and Freeze of the Season
Temperatures take a tumble Friday night as the cold air settles in. Temperatures drop into the low to mid 30s in the Upstate and below freezing in the mountains. Some of you have seen some patchy frost this season, but this is the first time we’re in for widespread frost across the Upstate with some of the more rural areas dropping below freezing and a widespread freeze for the mountain valleys.
What this means for you:
- Kill frost arrives for the Upstate gardens and tender outdoor plants. Bring in any potted plants.
- Freeze threatens any remaining vegetation in the mountains
- Clean and prep your fireplace if you plan to use it this weekend
- Make sure livestock and pets will be warm
- Check on family and friends and make sure they will stay warm this weekend
Afternoon temperatures are quite cool, running 10° to 15° below normal. Highs are only in the mid 50s in the Upstate and the mid 40s in the mountains.
Staying Chilly into Next Week
The arctic air stays in place Sunday and into the early part of next week. Sunday morning looks even colder than Saturday as temperatures drop to around freezing in the Upstate and into the 20s in the mountains. Any areas that drop below freezing, see an end to the growing season. Highs Sunday stay in the mid 50s for the Upstate. However, for the mountains, it’s about 10° warmer than Saturday with highs in the upper 40s to low 50s.
The chilly weather continues into next week with highs only reaching the mid 50s and lows dipping back to the mid-30s Upstate and upper 20s to low 30s in the mountains. Temperatures gradually warm up next week.
Your Action Plan
🌱 Protect Your Landscape: Bring in potted vegetation and consider protecting outdoor plants from frost damage…