Another cool start before the week warms up

Sunday morning thermometer readings around Mecklenburg county dipped into the low 40s as a large area of high pressure kept clear skies and light winds in place overnight. Sunshine will prevail across the area today, accompanied by a northeasterly breeze and afternoon highs in the mid-60s. Tonight those temperatures will again drop into the low 40s, but skies will begin to cloud over before dawn.

Those clouds will stick around Monday courtesy of a cold air damming setup as illustrated on this forecast surface map for 7:00 a.m. tomorrow:

Clockwise air flow around strong New England high pressure will push cool moist air from off the Atlantic waters over land. The result will be low clouds with only scattered peeks of sunshine tomorrow. Afternoon highs will top out in the mid-60s from South Hill to Clarksville amid easterly winds.

By Tuesday this setup will change as that high pressure moves off the coast. Sunshine will return, southerly winds will take over, and temperatures will soar back into the mid-70s. By midweek the next cold front will approach from the west, bringing more clouds and a decent chance at some showers on Thursday. Rain totals don't look to be very impressive, but it's a start!