Charlotte faces “dangerous” low temperatures and wind chills from an approaching Arctic air mass, National Weather Service meteorologists said in an alert Thursday. “ Confidence is high that it will be very cold next week,” forecasters said earlier on the social media site X.

Extreme cold combined with wind can cause the human body to lose heat at a faster rate, enhancing the risk of frostbite and hypothermia, the NWS says. Frostbite occurs when skin and the tissues beneath it freeze, with fingers, toes, ears and the nose at highest risk, experts say.

As of Thursday, Jan. 16, Weather Service forecasts for central and Eastern North Carolina show two opportunities “for precipitation other than rain,” meteorologists’ way of saying it could be snow but don’t get too excited, it might be our old nemeses sleet or freezing rain.

Charlotte has a 90% chance of snow, sleet and freezing rain from the approaching system, National Weather Service meteorologists said.

The winter storm heading for Charlotte and much North Carolina could bring snow, of course, but also sleet and freezing rain. While they are similar forms of precipitation, and all happen when it is cold out,

Charlotte has a 100% chance of snow, sleet and freezing rain from the approaching system, National Weather Service forecasters said.