Forecast Last Updated at Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 5:24PM

The Chill Remains

Arctic high pressure has settled over the Eastern U.S. with dry air and very cold temperatures. Tonight is very cold under clear skies. Wednesday is milder; however, valleys will be very cold again Wednesday night. Thursday has increasing afternoon and evening clouds. The next front arrives Friday with rain. Precipitation may begin as a brief period of freezing rain late Thursday night and early Friday. Rain could be heavy Friday afternoon and evening. Then colder air returns. Snow showers and flurries are in play late Friday night through the weekend.

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Tuesday Hi: 30 Lo: 16 Clear; Cold; NNW wind 5-15 mph

Wednesday Hi: 46 Lo: 20 Bright sunshine; Milder daytime; Cold in valleys Wed. night; Light SE wind, but breezy Wed. night up top

Thursday Hi: 48 Lo: 33 Sunshine giving way to more clouds late; Rain or freezing rain possible late Thur. night; Light SE wind, but becoming windy at higher elev's

Friday Hi: 42 Lo: 33 Cloudy; Rain, heavy in the PM; Some freezing rain possible early AM; Rain changing to snow showers late Fri. night

Saturday Hi: 37 Lo: 29 Mostly cloudy; Snow showers with a lull in the afternoon; Blustery; Cold

Further Out

Sunday - Mostly cloudy; Cold; Snow showers and flurries; Blustery; High in the upper 30s; Low in the upper 20s
Monday - AM snow flurries; Then clearing; Cold; Blustery; High near 40 degrees; Low near 30 degrees

Forecast Discussion

Arctic high pressure covers the Eastern U.S. with bitter cold temperatures that we have not felt in a while. Warm weather in late December and early January makes the cold bite. Just to keep things in perspective however, this is the date of the coldest day ever recorded in NW NC. On this date in 1985, Boone plummeted to -24°, Jefferson -12°, Banner Elk -31°, and -34° on Mt. Mitchell. Do you feel warmer now? :-)

Low pressure develops in the SW U. S. overnight and tomorrow. It moves to the Ohio Valley by Friday with a front in tow. Clouds increase Thursday afternoon and evening. Rain develops early Friday morning, possibly beginning as a brief period of freezing rain. Rain may be heavy at times Friday afternoon and evening.

Colder air returns after the front and will be with us into early next week. Snow showers and flurries develop late Friday night. Snow showers and flurries are possible all weekend and evening into Monday morning. We can thank (or blame depending on your perspective) another moist fetch from the Great Lakes for the touch of snow this weekend. Accumulations will be light except for a few inches in the typical higher elevations near the TN/NC border.

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