Is More Winter Weather on the Way?

It has been quite the winter so far in the Carolinas, and we're only about half way through the season! After a brief warm up during the middle of this week, colder temperatures will return for the weekend, and the chance for winter precipitation could return by early next week.

Before we get to next week though, we'll have to keep an eye on low pressure that will develop off the southeast coast Saturday. This low should stay far enough offshore to keep most precipitation offshore. However, it is possible that the low tracks a little closer to the coast spreading snow flurries or light snow showers across coastal areas late Saturday afternoon or Saturday evening. The Triangle and Sandhills will stay dry with no precipitation over the weekend.

Then our attention turns to Monday into Tuesday of next week. Cold air will be in place over central North Carolina as low pressure tracks from near the Gulf coast to off the Carolina coast. Since this is still several days away, details with this system are still very uncertain and computer models are not in full agreement with exactly how this weather system will set up. It does appear precipitation will start by late Monday across the Sandhills and Triangle as some type of winter precipitation - either snow or a wintry mix. The precipitation may change to a cold rain into Tuesday in the Sandhills. The Triangle may be right on the dividing line between an area that sees mainly winter precipitation and an area that changes to a cold rain. At this time, it appears coastal areas would mainly just see rain showers. Precipitation amounts are uncertain at this point, so it's too early to say if this will just be a nuisance event or a more significant event.

As with the past winter systems this season, details in the forecast should become clearer over the coming days. Stay tuned for our Weather on the Ones updates for the latest!

Lee Ringer
News 14 Carolina Meteorologist
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