Behind the Forecast: How Rowan County Weather Supports the Cheerwine Festival

As the streets of Salisbury turn red for the 2025 Cheerwine Festival on Saturday, May 17, one person will be watching the skies as closely as festivalgoers eye the food trucks: Steve Monday of Rowan County Weather.

Proud to serve once again as the official weather forecast provider for this beloved annual event, Steve Monday plays a behind-the-scenes but critical role in keeping the day fun, safe, and well-informed.

Pre-Festival Prep: Forecasting Starts Early
Weather coverage for the Cheerwine Festival doesn’t begin on festival day – it begins weeks in advance. Steve starts monitoring long-range patterns in early May, using historical data, seasonal models, and current radar trends to give both the public and event organizers a clearer picture of what to expect.

Full daily forecasts for the festival will begin Monday, May 12, with detailed outlooks on temperatures, cloud cover, rain chances, and wind. Each post is tailored specifically for festivalgoers, vendors, and staff to plan accordingly.

Leading up to the festival, Steve works closely with festival organizers, City of Salisbury officials, and Rowan County Emergency Management to provide weather guidance for planning, logistics, and public safety. That collaboration continues the day of the festival with real-time coordination behind the scenes.

In the event of severe weather, the City of Salisbury will also send out alerts via Nixle.com to help keep attendees safe and informed. In addition, announcements will be made from the concert stage to ensure festivalgoers are aware of any urgent weather-related developments.

Real-Time Updates Throughout the Day
On the day of the festival, Steve will provide real-time weather updates via Rowan County Weather social media. If there's a chance of storms, shifts in timing, or heat safety tips needed, you'll see it first on those platforms.

Radar checks, hour-by-hour forecasts, and mobile alerts help attendees plan when to grab a seat for live music or when to duck into a vendor tent to avoid a brief shower.

Branded Weather Graphics & Local Collaboration
In the weeks leading up to the event, followers will see a series of branded forecast graphics featuring the Cheerwine Festival logo and countdown designs – helping build awareness while giving people helpful weather prep. These visual tools are widely shared and easy to follow.

Steve also collaborates with the City of Salisbury, Downtown Salisbury Inc., and Cheerwine to ensure messaging is consistent across platforms. This coordinated effort means festivalgoers are never in the dark about changing weather conditions.

Trusted Local Source for a Community Tradition
The Cheerwine Festival draws tens of thousands each year, and Steve Monday takes pride in being a part of that success. As a trusted voice in the community, he is committed to providing accurate, timely, and clear weather coverage so families, vendors, and performers can enjoy every minute of the celebration.

So as you count down the days and plan your visit, know that Rowan County Weather – powered by Steve Monday – is already at work, keeping the skies (and your schedule) clear for a fantastic festival day.