From Summer to Winter: Rowan County’s 50° Temperature Drop in 24 Hours

Rowan County is about to experience a dramatic weather swing — going from summerlike warmth to late-winter chill in less than a day.

Temperatures on Wednesday are expected to climb into the mid-80s, which is close to record territory for mid-March and more typical of early summer.

But by Thursday morning, a strong cold front will sweep through the region bringing showers, gusty winds, and a sharp drop in temperatures.

By late morning Thursday, temperatures will fall into the upper 40s, nearly 40 degrees colder than Wednesday afternoon.

And the temperature swings don’t stop there.

Thursday night, skies clear and colder air settles into the Carolinas. Overnight lows in Rowan County are expected to fall to around 32 degrees, bringing the possibility of a light freeze in some areas.

That means the total temperature change from Wednesday afternoon to early Friday morning could approach 50 degrees.

What’s Causing the Dramatic Shift?

The rapid change is being driven by a strong cold front moving through the Southeast.

Ahead of the front, southwest winds are pulling unusually warm air into North Carolina. That’s why temperatures Wednesday are expected to reach the mid-80s, despite it still being early March.

Once the front moves through Thursday morning, winds shift to the north and begin pulling much colder air into the region.

Meteorologists call this cold air advection, and it will cause temperatures to fall quickly during the day Thursday.

Rain and Storms Arrive Late Tonight

Before the colder air arrives, a band of showers and a few thunderstorms will move through overnight and early Thursday.

Rainfall totals across Rowan County are expected to range from a quarter to a half inch, which will be helpful given the ongoing dry conditions across the region.

A few storms could produce gusty winds, but the overall severe weather risk remains low.

A Much Cooler End to the Week

Once the front moves through, much cooler and drier air settles in.

Friday

• Sunny

• High near 60

Saturday

• Sunny

• High near 70

Sunday

• Increasing clouds

• Chance of showers returning late in the day

The bottom line: enjoy the summerlike warmth today — because by Thursday morning, it will feel like a completely different season across Rowan County.