A “hard gel“of a”polar air mass” is expected to fall on Charlotte, the North Carolina mountains and upstate South Carolina this weekend and could last for several days, National Weather Service meteorologists said Friday.

Low nighttime temperatures could fall into the mid to low 20s early to mid next week in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties, according to the NWS Charlotte forecast midday Friday.

“Higher elevations in the mountains, generally above 3,500 feet, will experience a prolonged period of subzero temperatures through Tuesday evening,” according to the NWS alert. “Elsewhere in the region, severe frost is likely each morning. »

THE the coldest air of the season was expected to arrive in the Charlotte area Friday evening and early Saturday, the NWS office in Greer, South Carolina, announced Friday morning on the social media site X.

Wear mittens or gloves, dress in layers and protect your pets from freezing temperatures, NWS meteorologists said.

Charlotte Forecast: Freezing Temperatures to Persist

Fortunately, skies are expected to remain sunny and dry in the Charlotte area, forecasters say.

And temperatures are expected to gradually rise later in the week, according to forecasts.

The high is expected to reach just 53 degrees on Friday, before dropping to a forecast 49 degrees on Saturday, climbing to 52 on Sunday and falling to 45 on Monday and 44 on Tuesday. The NWS expects highs to climb to 49 on Wednesday and 57 on Thursday.

NWS meteorologists are forecasting lows of 24 early Saturday, 27 early Sunday, 26 early Monday, 23 early Tuesday, 24 early Wednesday and 32 early Thursday.

THE high historical average temperature For November 29 in Charlotte, the temperature is 76 degrees and the lowest historical average is 33, according to the NWS.

Forecast for Rock Hill

After a expected a maximum of 53 Friday, Rock Hill could see highs of 49 on Saturday, 53 on Sunday, 45 on Monday and Tuesday, 50 on Wednesday and 59 on Thursday, according to the NWS.

Lows are forecast at 24 early Saturday, 25 early Sunday, 26 early Monday, 22 early Tuesday, 24 early Wednesday and 31 early Thursday.