Two Freezing Mornings Ahead: What Makes Sunday's Cold Different?

Friday, November 13, 2026 | Rowan County Weather & Regional Forecasts

We've been talking quite a bit about the colder weather moving into our area this weekend, and the latest freeze alerts issued Friday morning give us a better idea of what to expect.

Both Saturday and Sunday mornings will be cold, but Sunday is shaping up to be the bigger concern for many communities.

And there's a reason I'm paying particularly close attention to that second morning.

Saturday Morning: The First Round

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a Freeze Warning for parts of the northern Piedmont, including Davidson County, from 3 AM until 8 AM Saturday.

Temperatures in the warning area could fall to around 30 degrees.

Farther south, including Stanly County, a Frost Advisory is in effect during those same hours, with temperatures expected to drop to around 33 degrees.

That may not sound like a big difference, but a few degrees can make a considerable difference when it comes to frost formation and damage to sensitive plants.

Even where temperatures remain slightly above freezing, frost can still develop on exposed surfaces.

Sunday Morning: A Colder Start

Sunday is where things become a little more concerning.

The latest alerts have Freeze Warnings in place for both Davidson and Stanly counties from 1 AM until 8 AM Sunday.

In the northern Piedmont, temperatures could drop as low as 27 degrees. Farther south, readings around 30 degrees are possible.

That's a colder forecast than Saturday morning, and it also means some locations could spend a longer period below freezing.

It's not just about how low the temperature gets. How long it stays below freezing matters, too.

A brief dip to 31 degrees isn't necessarily going to have the same impact as several hours in the upper 20s.

Why Could Sunday Be Colder?

One of the things we're watching is how efficiently temperatures fall overnight.

When skies are mostly clear and winds are light, the ground loses heat after sunset. That cooling can continue for several hours, especially when colder air is already in place.

By Sunday morning, some locations may have had another full day and night to cool under this colder weather pattern.

That's one reason the second morning could end up colder than the first.

Of course, cloud cover and wind speeds can make a difference, so I'll be watching those details as we get closer.

What About Rowan, Davie, and Cabarrus Counties?

The alerts discussed above were issued by the National Weather Service in Raleigh, which covers Davidson and Stanly counties.

Rowan, Davie, and Cabarrus counties fall under the Greenville-Spartanburg forecast office, which issues separate alerts for those locations.

Even so, we're watching the same general cold weather pattern across our region.

Freezing or near-freezing temperatures remain a concern, particularly in rural communities and areas where colder air tends to settle overnight.

I'll continue monitoring the latest forecasts and alerts for all of our counties.

What Should You Do Before Tonight?

If you have sensitive plants outside, I'd take care of them this afternoon rather than waiting until temperatures are already falling.

Bring potted plants indoors where possible, cover plants that need to remain outside, and check any exposed plumbing that could be vulnerable to freezing.

And don't assume that because your weather app shows 32 or 33 degrees, everything outside will be fine.

Conditions can vary quite a bit from one backyard to another.

Looking Beyond the Weekend

The good news is that this colder stretch won't last indefinitely.

Afternoon temperatures should begin recovering early next week, with more comfortable conditions returning during the daytime.

For now, though, I want everyone paying attention to both Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Saturday will be cold enough to cause problems for sensitive vegetation in some locations.

Sunday could be worse, with temperatures falling farther below freezing and potentially staying there longer.

I'll keep following the forecast and pass along any changes to the warnings as we head through the weekend.

Rowan County Weather & Regional Forecasts
Covering Rowan, Davie, Davidson, Cabarrus, and surrounding communities.