Wrapping up a cold December...what does January hold?

Here is today's edition of the Carolina Weather Video. In it, I take a look at the December temps thus far, how our forecast is shaping up for the next week, and some January ideas...



Some updated info on the cold December, through Dec. 28. Here are the temp deviations from average thus far for the month.

CLT: -10.2

GSO: -8.7

RDU: -8.8

GSP: -8.1

Those are very significant deviations. Even though it will be a little milder the next couple of days to end the month, December will go down as one of the coldest on record. For instance, if the month were to end now, it would be the second coldest December on record for Charlotte.

We will see how the numbers sort out after the month officially ends.

It will be a bit milder to finish the week. Highs will be well up into the 50s Friday. Our next precip chance comes later Saturday into early Sunday as a cold front approaches.

Next week is interesting. The GFS is insistent on overrunning precip mid-week....we will see. Next week looks like the type of pattern where you have to watch for a sneaky little shallow layer of cold air oozing in from the north. But details are sketchy as to even a rain chance might occur.

At this point, I am not seeing blow-torch type warmth for January. The NAO wants to stay negative, and so does the AO. With that being the case, the chance of a long, huge ridge in the eastern US is slim.