Temperatures are climbing this morning after tumbling to a record low before dawn in Charlotte.

The frigid readings this morning not only set a record for the date, but it marked the earliest ever that the temperature has fallen below 20 degrees in Charlotte.

Forecasters say we will moderate slightly over the next two days, but another shot of cold air is headed for the region late Thursday into the weekend.

The unofficial low this morning at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport was 18 degrees. That broke the mark of 20 degrees for the date, set in 1951. Before today, the earliest sub-20 reading in Charlotte was on Nov. 20, 1951.

The last time it was this cold in the Queen City was Feb. 28, when it dropped to 17 degrees.

In addition to this morning's cold, there were some road problems in the mountains, where a couple inches of snow fell Monday night and Tuesday. Because of icy spots on secondary roads, four school systems -- Ashe, Avery, Mitchell and Watauga -- opened two hours late.

Temperatures were cold across the area.

Among the unofficial morning lows:

18 degrees: Lincolnton, Statesville.

19 degrees: Albemarle, Salisbury.

20 degrees: Concord, Monroe, Rock Hill.

21 degrees: Hickory.

Forecasters expect the high pressure system over the Southeast to moderate slightly today and Thursday. Highs today are forecast to reach the upper 40s, which is still well below the average high at this time of year, 60 degrees. On Thursday, highs could reach the upper 50s.

But the next cold front will push highs into the upper 40s Friday and Saturday, with morning lows in the 20s Saturday.