Winds Bring Chill, But Temps to Spring Back Up

It's all about the winds this week.

On Sunday, they gusted to more than 50 mph, fanning up wildfires in every North Carolina county. Behind them, they left chilly temperatures and clear skies on Monday. But by Tuesday, the wind pattern will shift again, bringing back mild weather.

This week will see "some ups and downs temperature-wise, especially overnight," WRAL Meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said. "It’s the sort of forecast you need to pay attention to. Do you need the winter coat this morning? Do you not need it? That’s the kind of week we’re going to have."

From Sunday's high in the 60s, temperatures will drop around 20 degrees Monday. Around noon, temperatures across the viewing area ranged from high 30s to the low 40s and were not expected to get much about 45 degrees.

"We’ve had a good north-northwesterly flow (of wind) over the last 12 to 24 hours, so that’s ushered this cooler air in," Gardner said. "But we’re going to switch that out tomorrow and get back into a southeasterly and then a southerly flow. That’s going to warm things up for us."

Temperatures will dip to 28 degrees Monday night but rebound to 56 degrees on Tuesday. That night, they will drop only about 5 degrees, so commuters will wake up Wednesday to temperatures over 50 degrees.

Wednesday could also see a small chance of rain as "a low-pressure system ... zip(s) up the coast," Gardner said. Most rain, though, will fall on the coast and in far eastern North Carolina.

The see-saw effect on temperatures will continue the remainder of the week: Thursday morning temperatures should linger around 30 degrees before returning to the low 50s. Friday will likely see a high around 60 degrees and low near 40 degrees.

"Spring seems to be trying to spring out there, though. I’ve noticed some tulips up, a couple daffodils blooming," Gardner said. "But it is still the middle of February."