Freezing rain to impact North Carolina mountains; travel hazards expected Tuesday for Charlotte
Winter weather is set to impact the North Carolina Mountains late Monday into Tuesday. Widespread rain also makes a terrible Tuesday commute for Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A storm system will bring very cold rain to the Charlotte metro early Tuesday, with the threat of wintry weather in the North Carolina mountains late Monday.
A Weather Impact Alert is in effect for Tuesday due to the weather’s impacts on the region.
North Carolina mountains
-
Late Monday night through Tuesday morning for the Mountains. Midnight to noon for the Charlotte area.
-
Precipitation may linger into Tuesday afternoon in elevated terrain, with a shift to snow or rime ice along the Tennessee border by Tuesday afternoon and evening.
-
After that, dry and cooler weather on Wednesday and Thursday — then another chance for wintry precipitation late Thursday night into Friday.
-
Freezing rain / ice possible on mountain slopes. Impacts on roads and travel, especially at night or early morning.
-
Snow / rime ice potential in higher elevations (especially along the Tennessee border) — could affect mountain passes, visibility and lead to slippery or hazardous driving conditions.
-
Wednesday morning: colder temperatures with overnight lows possibly in the upper teens to lower 20s in high elevations. This means any moisture could freeze again, increasing ice risk (especially on bridges and overpasses).
-
Be prepared for icy roads, especially on mountain slopes and passes: if you have travel planned, consider delaying until after daylight or when temperatures rise safely above freezing.
-
Winter Weather Advisory — 7 p.m. Monday until Noon Tuesday. Check road conditions mid-morning Tuesday (after precipitation tapers).
-
For outdoor plans (hiking, driving, mountain recreation): bring proper gear and monitor for updates. Dress warm and rain boots are a good idea for the morning.
-
After the precipitation ends, expect colder air and possible refreezing overnight — treat residual wet surfaces as icy, especially at higher elevations.
Greater Charlotte area
-
Today (Monday): partly sunny, with temperatures rising into the upper 40s.
-
Rain is expected to move in tonight, mainly after 1–3 a.m.; rain likely continues into the first half of Tuesday.
-
Tuesday: rain likely before mid-afternoon, with a high near 50 °F.
-
Rain overnight and Tuesday morning potentially heavy at times, leading to wet roads for the Tuesday morning commute.
-
Up to 1-2 inches of rain could fall. There will be heavy downpours during peak drive times.
-
Patchy fog possible late night / early Tuesday morning, reducing visibility — especially for early commuters.
-
Temperatures will stay above freezing, so no snow/ice issues, but expect chilly, damp conditions, and potentially lower clouds. Wednesday morning there could a light freeze especially north of Charlotte leading to slick spots.
-
Tonight and early Tuesday: plan for wet roads and possible fog. Leave extra travel time and drive cautiously, especially if commuting early.
-
Keep an eye on rainfall amounts: several tenths of an inch possible with some up to 2+ inches.
-
It gets colder the next day on Wednesday morning but sunshine should warm us up nicely. Still well below normal over the next 7 days.
Come Raise Your Weather IQ:
Stay connected to the WCNC Charlotte Weather Team
Contact Brad Panovich at bpanovich@wcnc.com or follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Contact Bekah Birdsall at rbirdsall@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Contact Chris Mulcahy at cmulcahy@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.
Contact Majestic Storm at majesticstorm@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Contact Brittany Van Voorhees at brittany@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.
