Bundle-up….winter is arriving early.

An Arctic blast of air is plunging southeastward and Roanoke-Chowan area residents will see the coldest weather of the season today (Tuesday) through Thursday. And there’s even the slight possibility of snow showers Tuesday evening.

While little or no snow accumulation is expected, if the white stuff does come down, it will mark the first time since 1987 that the R-C area will see frozen flakes prior to Thanksgiving.

The cause for the cold weather is a strong front extending from the Great Lakes to the Central Plains that is expected to dive off the East Coast and southward to the Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday evening. That will make room for cold high pressure over south-central Canada to sink southward by today.

Before the ice-cold air arrives locally later in the day, there is a slight chance of rain showers after 3 p.m. where the high temperature is expected to be around 51 degrees. Winds will pick-up during the day, turning out of the north at 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

A chance of rain and snow showers lingers into Tuesday night, mainly before 10 p.m. Tonight’s low is forecasted at 28 degrees.

Wednesday’s high temperature, despite sunny skies, will struggle to get above the mid-40’s. The low Wednesday night is predicted at 27 degrees….so you may consider bringing in your pets and allow them a warm place to hunker down for the night.

Things begin to warm-up on Thursday (51 degrees for a high) and Friday (60 degrees). Temps both nights will be around the freezing mark.