GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – Brace for a dramatic temperature plunge this week as a arctic blast arrives Friday. Saturday marks a First Alert Weather Day as the coldest air mass of the season delivers the first widespread frost and freeze across the Western Carolinas.
Veterans Day: One More Mild Day
We enjoy one more mild day before things change up for the rest of the week. Veterans Day is pleasant with highs in the low to mid 70s once again. This keeps our streak of highs 5° to 10° above normal going. It’s a great day for all ceremonies honoring our nation’s military members. It’s also a good day to get outdoor work done and hang up the Christmas lights.
Thursday: Cold Front Brings Gusty Winds, Small Rain Chance
Thursday brings a change. A quick moving cold front brings some spotty showers, mainly to the mountains during the early morning hours of Thursday. The rain clears out by sunrise for most areas, but a few light showers could linger over the North Carolina-Tennessee border on and off through the day. It’s mostly sunny during the day for the Upstate with a mix of sun and clouds in the mountains.
Gusty winds kick up from the northwest—gusting to 30 mph across the Upstate and 25 to 35 mph in the mountains. Temperatures start to drop but it’s still not too bad for the Upstate.
We top out in the mid to upper 60s which is right around normal for mid-November. But for the mountains, temperatures are starting to fall. Highs are only in the mid 50s which is about 5° below normal.
Friday: Arctic Air Arrives
An arctic cold front slides through the area Friday giving us a blast of cold air. Temperatures struggle into the mid to upper 50s across the Upstate during the day, while mountain areas only reach the low to mid 40s. Gusty northwest winds continue throughout the day, especially in the mountains where gusts top out around 30 mph. The winds look to die down for the Upstate.
The front brings enough energy to spark off a northwest flow snow event for the mountains and with the cold air moving in, snow level lower to valley floor, giving us the season’s first decent snow. The snow starts to ramp up Thursday night and continue through much of the day Friday. The higher elevations above 3500′ could get 2″-4″ of snow while the northern valleys only get dusting at the most.
Saturday: First Alert Weather Day
Saturday marks a First Alert Weather Day for the first widespread frost and freeze of the season. Temperatures plunge Friday night to the low to mid 30s in the Upstate and the 20s to low 30s in the mountains. For the Upstate, most areas get a freeze but some of the rural areas see a freeze while the mountain valleys are in for a freeze.
What you need to do:
- Bring potted plants and cover tender ones Friday evening
- Pets and livestock need shelter from the cold
- Prep your fireplace if you plan to use it this weekend
- Make sure family and friends stay warm
The winds are still breezy in the mountains, gusting 25-30 mph. This means it feels even colder than the 20s. The wind chill drops to the mid to upper teens for the mountains. For the Upstate, the winds are light so the feels like temps are right around the temperature which is in the low to mid 30s.
Mostly clear skies dominate Saturday as high pressure builds in from the northwest. Sunshine creates a deceptive look as we are in for another chilly one with highs in the mid 50s across the Upstate and low to mid 40s in the mountains again…