From Sunshine to Arctic Chill: Tracking the Temperature Drop Ahead for Rowan, Davie, and Davidson Counties

A stretch of sunshine across Rowan, Davie, and Davidson Counties is giving us a brief break from active weather, but a significant change is already on the horizon. Temperatures will climb slightly heading into Saturday before a powerful arctic front sweeps through the region early Sunday. That front will bring the coldest air of the season so far, with temperatures dropping rapidly and wind chills falling into dangerous territory.

Here’s a detailed look at how the pattern changes and what to expect over the next several days.

A Quiet and Sunny Finish to the Week

High pressure remains in control today through Saturday, allowing for mostly sunny skies and temperatures gradually rising each afternoon. Despite the sunshine, we remain on the cool side of normal, with highs mainly in the 40s today and climbing into the lower to mid-50s on Saturday.

Calm winds and clear nights will allow temperatures to fall below freezing each night, but overall conditions remain quiet and pleasant heading into the weekend.

Saturday: The Last Mild Day Before the Plunge

Saturday marks the warmest day of the period for all three counties. Highs in the lower to mid-50s arrive courtesy of weak warm air advection ahead of the next weather maker.

Moisture remains limited, so precipitation chances Saturday night stay low. A few light showers may develop after midnight, but nothing widespread or impactful is expected.

This mild-up is short-lived, however, as the leading edge of arctic air approaches from the northwest.

Sunday: The Arctic Front Arrives

The arctic front sweeps through Rowan, Davie, and Davidson Counties early Sunday. Even though precipitation looks limited and mainly to the north and east of our region, the bigger story will be the abrupt temperature change.

Key Impacts on Sunday:

• A sharp drop in temperatures by late morning and early afternoon

• Increasing northwest winds behind the front

• Falling wind chills into the teens and single digits by Sunday night

• Mostly sunny skies returning quickly as dry air races in

Highs Sunday may occur before noon, with temperatures falling through the afternoon.

Sunday Night: The Coldest Air of the Season

As the arctic high settles over the region, temperatures plunge:

• Lows fall into the low to mid-teens across all three counties

• Wind chills dip into the single digits

• Clear skies and dry air allow for maximum overnight cooling

This will be the coldest night of the season so far and may challenge early-winter temperature records in a few locations.

Monday: Cold but Quiet

Monday remains sunny and dry, but temperatures stay well below normal with highs only in the 30s. Light winds and clear skies continue into Monday night with lows once again falling into the teens or upper teens.

A gradual warm-up begins Tuesday as the arctic air mass slowly moderates.

Bottom Line for Rowan, Davie, and Davidson Counties

• Today–Saturday: Quiet, sunny, and gradually warming

• Early Sunday: Arctic front arrives

• Sunday Afternoon: Temperatures steadily fall

• Sunday Night: Coldest air mass of the season

• Monday: Continued cold with sunshine

This is a classic early-winter pattern for the Carolinas: a period of calm followed by a swift and powerful blast of arctic air. While precipitation remains limited, the dramatic temperature drop will be the main story.