Arctic air headed to Triangle for weekend

Some of the coldest temperatures of the season will make their way to North Carolina this weekend behind an arctic front that will move through after lunchtime Saturday.

Posted 11:45 a.m. Feb 10, 2012 — Updated 7:12 p.m. Feb 11, 2012

RALEIGH, N.C. — Some of the coldest temperatures of the season will make their way to North Carolina this weekend behind an arctic front that will move through after lunchtime Saturday.

The day will start out cloudy and cool, and there is a chance for some sprinkles until the middle of the afternoon. Temperatures will top out in the mid-50s at mid-day and then tumble through the afternoon as winds from the northwest pick up, WRAL meteorologists Mike Moss said.

Gusts could reach 30 to 40 miles per hour in some spots by Saturday evening.

"Bundle up if you're heading out later tonight or early Sunday," Moss said. "You'll need something to keep that wind off your skin."

Temperatures will continue to fall throughout the evening Saturday, bottoming out in the lows 20s by early Sunday. The cold air mixed with the strong northwesterly winds could create dangerous wind chills hovering in the teens and even single digits in some spots, Moss said.

There will be plenty of sunshine Sunday, but it will stay breezy and cold. With the winds factored in, the 41-degree forecast high will feel more like the 20s to near 30.

The North Carolina mountains could see 2-6 inches of snow, especially in the far western counties near the Tennessee border. Once the chance of sprinkles diminishes Saturday afternoon, the Triangle shouldn't see much in the way of precipitation until rain enters the forecast again Tuesday.

Temperatures will remain cool through the first half of the work week, with highs Monday and Tuesday topping out in the upper-40s to near 50. Overnight lows both days will be in the 20s to near 30.

Suggest A Correction