There's an increasing threat for Freezing Rain across the western Triad, Foothills, and parts of the Mountains. No, this will not be a crippling ice storm. A light Freezing Rain event possible Friday morning from an approaching low-pressure system. This system will, by no means, be a significant event, mainly a nuisance event. Don't fall for hype or misleading headlines, many of y'all will not even notice! "Still wondering where that major snowstorm was all the hype people were talking about.."
WHAT: Precipitation will move into the Triad, Foothills, and Mountains. A low-pressure surface system over New England will support cold and dry conditions, as the precipitation begins to fall temperatures will fall below Freezing. Freezing Rain is likely through early morning in areas in the Pink. Only a tiny bit of Freezing Rain can cause travel impacts. A CAD (Cold AIr Damming) event will develop with a shallow cold pool near the surface. Models are trending warmer and slower; right now, amounts will be only a light glaze on elevated surfaces and bridges and overpasses.
Freezing Rain is just regular rain that falls and then freezes when it hits surfaces, ground temperatures are above freezing for most, and I don't expect many impacts on the ground. Elevated Surfaces will be the only impacts.
AMOUNTS: Freezing Rain will develop early Friday morning, the amounts will be rather light and major impacts are not going to occur. Generally a light glaze (.01-.05") in the light pink from the Triad to parts of the Foothills. The Highest area of ice accumulation will be along the western Foothills and Blue Ridge Escarpment, .05-.15" of ice possible some accumulation on surfaces.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY: The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory from Greensboro west to the mountains for some minor impacts to travel due to ice. The following counties included: Avery-Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Yancey-Mitchell-Buncombe-Catawba-Rowan-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-Henderson-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains- Greater Burke-McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell- Rutherford Mountains-Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains- Forsyth-Guilford-Davidson-Ashe-Alleghany NC-Surry-Stokes-Rockingham-Caswell-Watauga-Wilkes-Yadkin-
TIMING: 3 AM-9 AM for some light freezing rain mainly west of Greensboro to the mountains. By 10 AM, temperatures will be above freezing, and impacts will be gone.
WHAT TO DO: If you are in the area in Pink on the map below. Use caution when traveling early in the morning Friday or delay your travel until 10 AM Once temperatures are above freezing the ice event will be history
Difficult travel conditions are possible. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute. Everyone gets regular rain Friday Afternoon
I'll keep you posted.