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Freezing Rain is Possible for some Saturday cold rain for most.
Winter Weather (ICE) is Possible for some on Saturday; no it is not the end of the world. No, you don't need to raid the grocery stores. I'll explain below that a robust low pressure will move through the state on Saturday, bringing a brief period of Winter Weather before all areas transition to a cold and miserable rain.
Friday will be cold and quiet with partly sunny skies with highs in the 40s to low 50s.
A low-pressure system will impact North Carolina, and moisture will over spread the state early Saturday with rain likely on and off throughout the day statewide. .50-2" of rain likely across the state.
Here's my thinking with my first call Freezing Rain Map: As of this evening, there is no reason to freak out; this will not be a significant event. We will see rain for most of Central and Eastern NC, a cold rain throughout the day on Saturday up to 2" of rain possible in spots.
(Dark Pink: Foothills Area) Rain will begin as Freezing rain. Freezing rain is when a warm nose aloft forms and precipitation falls as rain, but the temperatures at the ground are below freezing, so the rain freezes on contact. This area across the Foothills will see some freezing rain Saturday morning through about 12PM before models show warmer temperatures changing everyone to plain rain. Up to .25" of Ice Accrual will be possible through about midday Saturday before temperatures warm above freezing.
Impacts: Ice accrual will be on elevated surfaces and roads on Saturday morning. Some slick spots are possible, so be careful on the roads early. Travel on roads Saturday morning across the foothills will be dangerous, and a few isolated power outages will be possible due to ice accumulation on trees. Any ice accrual should be gone by the afternoon as temperatures warm.
(Light Pink) A light glaze of ice will be possible on elevated surfaces and some roads/bridges Saturday morning before the Freezing Rain changes to plain rain as temperatures warm.
In the mountains, a light accumulation of sleet/snow is possible, but I hate to tell you this will not be a snowstorm for NC.
A Winter Storm Watch has been posted by the National Weather Service for Freezing Rain for the following counties Alexander-Henderson-Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-
Burke Mountains-Greater Burke-McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell-Rutherford Mountains-Polk Mountains- Transylvania-Greater Rutherford-Eastern Polk-Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Watauga-Wilkes: These counties are where we could see the most ice accrual that will cause travel impacts and some scattered power outages.
Central and Eastern NC should see just a cold rain no impacts expected.
The Bottom Line: This will not be a snowstorm for North Carolina; the vast majority is a rain event. Some winter weather is possible across Western areas during the morning before changing over to rain. Regardless of where you are in NC, Saturday will not be a good day for outside activities. If you're a snow lover this is not your storm hate to break it to you. A cold, miserable rain will be the theme.
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