ROCKINGHAM — Although the season doesn’t officially start for another 19 days, Richmond County and other areas of central North Carolina are getting an advanced dose of winter weather.
Overnight lows heading into the second day of December dropped below freezing, with that trend expected to continue through most of the week — and bring a chance of snow.
According to the forecast from the National Weather Service, there is a chance of flurries and even a light dusting from 1-5 a.m. Tuesday. The accumulation is expected to be less than half an inch.
As of Monday evening, Richmond County Schools was planning to operate on a regular schedule, but officials said they would monitor the weather and road conditions and provide an update by 5 a.m.
Several residents around Richmond County reported a brief wintry mix before Thanksgiving.
Wind chill values on Tuesday are expected to be in the lower 20s earlier in the day, with the temperature expected to be just above freezing for Rockingham’s tree-lighting ceremony on Tuesday.
Overnight lows are expected to dip to around 18 degrees early Wednesday, with wind chill values again in the 20s during the day despite a high of 49 as wind gusts are forecast to be as much as 21 mph.
Thursday’s high is expected to reach near 60 degrees, but drop to the upper 40s during Hamlet’s Parade of Lights.
Friday will be cooler, with a high of only 44 degrees before dropping throughout the night, after Ellerbe’s Hometown Christmas, into the lower 20s.
The high on Saturday, after Rockingham’s Christmas in the Square, is expected to get close to 50 degrees and dropping to the upper 20s overnight.
