North Carolina wakes under a heavy, slate-gray sky as cool mist brushes across Charlotte’s rooftops. The pavement glistens, and the air feels damp and unsettled—an early sign of the shifting December weather pattern that strengthens into Tuesday.
Showers stay scattered today, mainly from late morning through mid-afternoon. While rainfall amounts remain light, the combination of persistent cloud cover and rising moisture will slow some early travel around I-77 and the Brookshire Freeway. Winds stay calm for now but gradually turn northeasterly, pulling in cooler air ahead of Tuesday’s more organized rain.
Meteorologists now track the next wave of precipitation arriving late Monday night. This brings a rain window from roughly 6 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tuesday, with the most consistent rainfall expected between late morning and mid-afternoon. Temperatures hold near 50°, so any wintry issues stay north of Charlotte—but the city still faces reduced visibility, slick spots in shaded corridors, and slower commutes as rain becomes more widespread.
To be fair, models show no sign of impactful snow south of the North Carolina mountain line. Still, the temperature contrast between the foothills and the urban corridor can produce occasional Winter Tease conditions, particularly with colder pockets west of Gastonia and north toward Statesville. Watch for brief heavier showers as the noon hour approaches Tuesday; these quick bursts can cause temporary, sharp slowdowns.
Wednesday brings a reset with full sunshine and seasonable highs in the upper 40s, perfect for early December travel or outdoor holiday prep before another moisture surge arrives Friday.
Five-Day Outlook
Today: Scattered rain; high 50.
Monday: Partly sunny; high 48.
Tuesday: Rain likely; high 50.
Wednesday: Sunny; high 48.
Thursday: Partly sunny; high 55.
