Long-Term Forecast For Rest Of NC Winter Released

Brutal cold started off the new year, but in recent days milder temperatures have brought about a January thaw with highs flirting with a spring-like 60 degrees. So what does the bulk of the winter have in store with two full months to go? Will the bitter Arctic air return, or will we enjoy more mild weather for the rest of the season?

The Weather Channel has some new insight. In a recent long-term forecast update, meteorologists from the Weather Channel crunched their data and computer models to come up with a prediction for the rest of winter. If you are in the Carolinas and hate the cold temperatures, there’s reason to be optimistic about the last two months of winter.

While much of the northern tier of the United States should expect colder-than-average temperatures to end winter and begin spring, North Carolina can expect near or slightly above average temperatures, the Weather Channel says.

"We expect a significant pattern shift toward colder temperatures in the eastern U.S. by mid-February," however, La Nina conditions will limit the cold in the southeast, Chief Meteorologist Todd Crawford said in a news release.

Temperatures in North Carolina will be near or slightly above average from February through May, the Weather Channel predicts.

You can read the full long-term winter forecast here.

In the meantime, here's the forecast for the week ahead, according to the National Weather Service:

Today (Jan. 22)
A 20 percent chance of showers after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight
Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 4am. Patchy fog after 10pm. Low around 53. South wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday (Jan. 23)
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 10am, then a slight chance of showers between 10am and 11am. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 64. West southwest wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 33. West wind 5 to 9 mph.
Wednesday (Jan. 24)
Sunny, with a high near 52. West wind 3 to 8 mph.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
Thursday (Jan. 25)
Sunny, with a high near 53.
Thursday Night
Clear, with a low around 30.
Friday (Jan. 26)
Sunny, with a high near 56.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Saturday (Jan. 27)
A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57.
Saturday Night
Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday (Jan. 28)
Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 61. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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Patch Editor Deb Belt contributed to this report.

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