The first snowfall of the year is expected for the mountains and even parts of Central NC could see some flakes fall Tuesday afternoon. Record cold is expected behind the cold front Tuesday night-Thursday.
Here's a look at the predicted snowfall in the Mountains and Foothills Tuesday
Accumulating snow likely for the mountains, as a strong arctic cold front moves in it will bring some snow to the Mountains and adjacent Foothills on Tuesday. Everyone in the Mountains will start as rain and then transition to snow by mid-morning. Gusty winds will help drive a northwest snow event by afternoon and evening. Accumulation will be very light, mostly confined to elevations above 3,500ft and the smokies/ high country boarding Tennessee. 1-3 inches possible along the TN/NC border with more elevated amounts (2/3") on the highest peaks (Grandfather, Mount Mitchell, and the Smokies) Flakes to up to a dusting likely elsewhere from Asheville to Boone. Impacts some roads such as the Blue Ridge parkway may become snow-covered.
The first Winter Weather Advisory of the 2019-2020 snow season has been issued, the following counties are under a Winter Weather Advisory: Alleghany-Ashe-Avery-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Graham- Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-Henderson- Watauga.
IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions developing by late Tuesday morning, and possibly lasting into Wednesday morning in some areas. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning and evening commutes.
REST OF THE STATE:
Everyone will start as a cold rain by mid-morning as the cold air arrives there's the potential for the rain to change over to snow for 1-2 hours, right now the only area outside the mountains to see some very light accumulation on grassy would be along Virginia/ North Carolina border.
WHY IS THIS SO HARD TO FORECAST? Anafront is when a very Arctic air mass arrives, which is a specific type of a cold front; this type of system is tough to forecast. When the cold air catches the snow is extremely hard to figure out. This type of event will not bring significant snowfall to Central NC; you need the cold air in place first. Tomorrow we will not have cold air in place. Cold air mass starts to undercut the precipitation just enough to turn them into the snow at the very end of the precipitation passage; this is very hard to do. Legen has it. Most Anafront passages don't work out.
Bottom Line: Anyone outside the Mountains and Foothills should not see road impacts; however, a brief build-up on elevated and grassy surfaces is possible. No reason to panic and run to the grocery store, some areas may not even see snow :(
The coldest air since February will arrive Tuesday afternoon through-Thursday. Tuesday will be one of those days where we start the day in the 50s/60s and finish the day in the 30s and 40s. Record cold is expected Tuesday night with dangerous wind chills. The cold front will bring a shock to the system from the 60s to the 20s and teens. Cold rain is expected on Tuesday.
Tuesday Night lows, bring in your pets and cover your farm animals. Make sure you prepare your home for subfreezing temperatures. Record cold is expected Tuesday night into Wednesday.
DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS: Windchills overnight Tuesday into Wednesday will be in the teens to below zero for many.
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