Tropical Update: The tropics are beginning to get more active. Watching!

ncwxauthority

August 11, 2026 at 7:20:12 PM

🌀 Tropical Update: Good afternoon, everyone. I'm sure everyone is sick of working on this fine Tuesday, so as you take your scroll break from work, I thought you'd love to read my tropical update. In true fashion as we head toward the start of schools/colleges, the tropics are coming alive, and this year is no different. I am, and forecasters at the National Hurricane Center are monitoring two main areas for potential tropical development in the Atlantic Ocean and two areas in the Pacific Ocean, with one showing a potential threat to Hawaii.

In the Atlantic, we have an area of disturbed weather in the North Atlantic moving away from the United States that has a low chance 20% of some Tropical Development over the next 5-7 days, but does not pose any threat to NC!

Down in the Main Development Region of the Atlantic, we've had several tropical waves that are moving off Africa over the next 5-10 days, and some are trying to show signs of development. There is now a 70% from the National Hurricane Center that a Tropical Depression or Storm will develop in this area. There remains high wind shear and dry air, so it'll face an uphill battle as it moves generally westward across the Atlantic. Since the system has not even developed, let's take models with a grain of salt and not jump to too many conclusions, but the threat to North Carolina at this point is rather low. So there's no reason to worry at this point.

Image 2: Is a graphic I created to give you an idea how long it takes tropical systems to travel across the Atlantic Ocean (NOT A FORECAST), just an example. This location is 10-14 days away, and it may not even survive the trek across. There could be some enhanced moisture to parts of the Caribbean Islands which they very much need.

Over in the Pacific, there is an area of disturbed weather over 1k miles east southeast of the Hawaiian Islands that has a high chance of becoming a Tropical Depression or Storm. Interests in the Hawaiian Islands should closely

monitor the progress of this system.

I'll keep you posted all season long; nothing to worry about right now in NC!

Mountains

110°F

Raleigh area

CADEN NELSON

Freezing rain to bring some icy conditions to parts of the NC Mountains/ Blue Ridge Escarpment

Ethan Clark
Dec 1, 2025
2 min read

🧊: Here we go again, another round of Freezing rain is likely late tonight into Tuesday morning across parts of the Mountains, Yadkin Valley, and the Blue Ridge Escarpment from Ashe County down to about Polk County. Freezing rain is expected in these areas; a light glaze will be possible, especially on elevated surfaces.

-Areas of most significant concern for some icing will be in the following Counties: Ashe, Ashe-Alleghany NC, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes, Stokes, Yadkin, Avery, Yancey, Mitchell, Caldwell, Mountains, Burke, Mountains, McDowell, Mountains, Buncombe, Henderson, Rutherford, Mountains-Polk Mountains. All these areas have the potential of some light icing that should glaze elevated surfaces, so be aware of some slick spots through about lunchtime on Tuesday. Down towards the Asheville area, east into Buncombe County, and near Henderson County have the best chance of some icing.

-There is the potential of some higher icing of up to .30/.40 in spots across parts of Ashe, Avery, Alleghany, Yancey, Mitchell, Caldwell, Burke (Mountains), and McDowell (Mountains) Surry-Watauga. This could lead to a couple of power outages due to the weight of the ice built up on the lines; be aware, just in case.

The Bottom Line: Icing will create some slippery condtions across a portion of the North Carolina mountains and Blue Ridge Escarpment tonight through about lunchtime on Tuesday. Icing may create slippery conditions on roads, bridges, and sidewalks. If you must drive late tonight or early Tuesday morning, take it easy, especially on bridges and overpasses, which ice first. Temperatures will be above freezing for everyone by lunchtime or so, and problems will be over. For everyone else across the state, just seeing a cold rain.

-Ethan