A gloomy Election Day (weather-wise, that is)

A developing storm system that could bring nasty weather up the East Coast -- where it is least needed -- also will deliver some rather gloomy conditions to the Charlotte region on Election Day.

It won't rain much, unfortunately, because the area is locked in a significant stretch of dry weather.

But we can expect a cloudy, chilly day. It won't be a pleasant day to be standing outdoors, should the line at your polling place be extremely long.

An upper-level low pressure system is forecast to swing southward into Alabama later Monday and then curve eastward to the Atlantic Coast on Tuesday. Once it reaches the coast, surface low pressure is predicted to form, and then ride up the East Coast.

That's right -- a nor'easter.

It's difficult to think of anything worse for people in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, because of the low strengthens enough and stays close enough to shore, it could bring strong winds and heavy rain to those hurricane-ravaged areas later in the week. More about that later.

The Charlotte region will miss most of the precipitation, according to meteorologists.

Areas across southern Georgia, northern Florida and the Lowcountry of South Carolina are expected to see the rainfall from this system as it develops Tuesday. Then the precipitation, probably a steady, soaking rain, will move up across the eastern third of North Carolina.

The Charlotte area will be too far north for much rainfall, although a few showers are possible Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Charlotte won't be too far north for the clouds. High pressure over Pennsylvania will be pumping chilly air into the Carolinas, and clouds from the developing storm will add to the chilling effect.

Don't expect temperatures to climb out of the upper 40s Tuesday. The National Weather Service forecast high for Charlotte is 51 degrees, but that could be optimistic.  More likely:  Clouds and temperatures in the 40s for much of the day.

If you vote at a location where you're likely to be standing outdoor, take a warm coat and possibly a cap.

In case you hadn't noticed, our warm weather from early and mid October has sailed away. The past week has been quite chilly, and more of the same is likely for much of this work week.

Temperatures are predicted to drop into the low and mid 30s Wednesday through Saturday mornings, and areas that haven't received frost yet are likely to get some this week.

The good news is that temperatures will moderate by the weekend. Highs are expected to hit the mid 60s Friday (after mid and upper 50s Wednesday and Thursday), and we could see 70 degrees Sunday, when the Panthers face the Denver Broncos at Bank of America Stadium.

Up the East Coast: The storm will be delivering a northeast wind. That means Staten Island, lower Manhattan and Connecticut, which face south, likely won't be affected much.

But it'll be a different story for New Jersey, where Hurricane Sandy did extensive damage last week to the protective sand dunes. A northeast wind will increase the tides by a couple feet, and that could bring ocean water back into some of the cities that were hard-hit last week.