NORTH CAROLINA — Just days after record-challenging warmth pushed temperatures into the 80s across parts of the Southeast, a dramatic reversal is now unfolding, with a surge of frigid air set to send readings 20 to 30 degrees below normal early this week. Forecasters are calling it true “temperature whiplash.”
From Record Warmth to Winter Chill
The latest forecast guidance shows a broad swath of significantly below-normal temperatures stretching across:
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Mississippi
The coldest anomalies — shown in deep purple shading on forecast maps — indicate temperatures running 20 to 30 degrees below average from this evening into Tuesday.
That means overnight lows falling into the teens and 20s, with afternoon highs struggling to climb beyond the 30s and 40s across much of the region.
For residents who were enjoying near-80° afternoons just days ago, the change will feel abrupt and intense.
What This Means for North Carolina
Across central and eastern North Carolina, including communities near Raleigh and stretching toward the coastal plain, temperatures are expected to sharply cool behind a departing low-pressure system offshore…