Charlotte MLK Day Weekend Forecast: Sunny Skies Ahead

CHARLOTTE, NC -- Severe weather and heavy thunderstorms are on tap for the Charlotte-metro region Friday, but skies will clear out for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, according to forecasters.

Rain moves into the region Thursday afternoon, with thunderstorms becoming possible by Friday evening, the National Weather Service said Jan. 11.

“Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop mainly Friday afternoon and evening ahead of a cold front and associated upper-level disturbance,” NWS said in a hazardous weather outlook bulletin Jan. 11. “The combination of increasing winds through a deep layer of the atmosphere, and improving instability, may permit a few of the thunderstorms to become severe. Damaging winds or an isolated brief, weak tornado will be possible.”

The soggy weather, however, will move out by midday Saturday, with clearing and sunny skies expected through Monday.

Here is the weekend forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today (Jan. 11)
Rain, mainly after noon. Patchy fog before noon. High near 61. East wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tonight
Rain, mainly before midnight, then a chance of showers after 4am. Patchy fog. Low around 56. East southeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday (Jan. 12)
Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3pm. Patchy fog before noon. High near 67. South wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday Night
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 42. South wind 7 to 10 mph becoming west northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday (Jan. 13)
A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. North wind 7 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.
Sunday (Jan. 14)
Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.
M.L.King Day (Jan. 15)
Mostly sunny, with a high near 41.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.