CHARLOTTE, NC — The sun will rise over the Queen City this morning in a glow of late-fall calm — clear skies, a cool breeze, and a sense that change is on the horizon. It’s the kind of crisp November morning that feels steady and mild for now, but by early next week, the Carolinas are staring down the first widespread freeze of the season.
According to the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg, dry, pleasant conditions will continue through Friday, with highs near 70°F and clear evenings for commutes and outdoor plans. Winds stay light and variable through the day, shifting southerly by Friday afternoon as moisture begins to build in from the west.
A few showers could arrive late Friday night into Saturday, mainly west of I-77, with rain chances peaking at 40% Saturday evening. The system won’t bring severe weather, but it will mark a pattern shift that pulls in noticeably cooler air by Sunday.
Sunday stays partly sunny and warm near 73°F, but the bottom drops out Monday. Forecasters warn of widespread freezing temperatures Monday night into Tuesday, with lows dipping into the upper 20s and low 30s across Charlotte, Gastonia, and Rock Hill. The first hard freeze will officially end the growing season across much of the Piedmont.
For now, residents can use this calm stretch to protect pipes, bring in plants, and prepare outdoor pets before the early-week chill settles in.
Thanksgiving travelers will want to watch this developing cold snap, as longer-range models hint at a stormier setup returning to the Southeast before midmonth.
Five-Day Outlook for Charlotte, NC:
Thu: 65/42 – Sunny and pleasant.
Fri: 70/55 – Mostly sunny, clouds increase.
Sat: 75/57 – Scattered showers late.
Sun: 73/36 – Partly sunny, breezy.
Mon: 45/28 – Clear, first hard freeze likely.
