Winter Blast Coming!

The past couple of weeks have been nothing short of spectacular for our area and the Southeast with an active pattern of storms with welcome rain. I've been asked if the recent rains are 'really' doing anything to help our situation out. You better believe it! Time of year is really on our side with a low sun angle and lower evaporation rates maximizing every raindrop across the area. As I'll always say, an inch of rain in December goes a lot further than an inch of rain in July or August. Unfortunately, we need about two to three months straight of this pattern to make a huge impact in the drought recovery. That will be difficult to do. In fact, signs of another pattern change with drier conditions are close.



We'll finish 2007 with another amazing soaker on Sunday. Everything still looks good for a general 1 to 2 inch rain for many areas as low pressure develops in the Southeast and moves toward the Carolina coast. Next up, a blast of arctic air with a strong and relatively dry cold front Tuesday. The air behind this front is some of the coldest we have seen in a long time. The attached panel shows the direct link to the Arctic with the cold air pouring all the way down through Florida!

This surge of arctic air will result in highs around the Charlotte metro in the 30s and 40s Wednesday and even Thursday struggles to get into the low 40s! Morning lows will be in the teens and 20s both mornings with 20s extending into Friday morning too. And I will say this, if you love skiing, make plans now for anytime from Tuesday through next weekend to hit the North Carolina resorts. Not only will the resorts have an easy time making fresh powder for the slopes, but natural snow will blitz many of the resorts from late day Tuesday into late Wednesday night. In fact, snow chains on tires and 4-wheel drive may be the way to get to those resorts with some of the snow squalls I can see developing. Pure arctic air in the form of a strong northwest wind into the mountains, a couple of upper air disturbances to move across and enhance snow squall activity will make for a significant snow. Look for more specifics from me by Monday of next week.