NORTH CAROLINA — Temperatures are trending 5 to 10 degrees below normal next weekend across the Carolinas, offering a notable break following the current stretch of heat flirting with 100 degrees. Considering the current extreme heat, this shift could amount to nearly a 20 degree cool-down from one weekend to the next across parts of the region.

Winston-Salem and Charlotte See Largest Departures From Normal

Winston-Salem is projected to see the most significant departure at 12 degrees below normal, while Charlotte follows closely behind at 11 degrees below normal. These two communities represent the most pronounced cooling within the broader forecast area heading into next weekend.

Columbia, South Carolina, is also forecast to see a substantial departure of 9 degrees below normal, extending the significant cool-down trend beyond North Carolina and into the northern part of South Carolina as well.

Coastal Communities See More Modest Temperature Departures

Coastal and eastern communities show smaller departures from normal compared to the Piedmont region, with Myrtle Beach forecast at just 2 degrees below normal and Charleston at only 1 degree below normal. Raleigh and Asheville show essentially no departure at 0.

This pattern suggests the coolest air will be most concentrated across the interior Piedmont and central Carolinas, while coastal areas maintain closer to seasonal temperatures heading into the following weekend.

Nearly Twenty Degree Swing Possible From Current Heat to Next Weekend

With current temperatures flirting with 100 degrees, the combination of today’s heat and next weekend’s forecast departures could produce a swing of nearly 20 degrees for some communities from one weekend to the next, representing a significant shift in the overall weather pattern.

This dramatic potential swing highlights just how much cooler conditions could feel by comparison, even though forecasters are careful to note this remains a modest seasonal adjustment rather than a true early arrival of fall temperatures.

Not Yet Time for Heat or Hoodies Despite the Cooling Trend

Forecasters were clear that this is not a signal to turn on the heat or break out the hoodies just yet, characterizing the trend instead as a nudge in the right direction toward fall rather than a definitive pattern change into cooler autumn weather.

Residents across the Carolinas can look forward to more comfortable conditions for outdoor activities like football viewing next weekend, even as the broader pattern remains firmly rooted in typical late summer warmth for the time being.