Snow for Friday Night, More Snow and Ice for Early Next Week

Lots of winter weather to talk about today! I'll start with a disturbance that will produce a band of snow across central North Carolina tonight. This disturbance will create heavier accumulations in the mountains, but a band of a dusting to 2" is possible across the Piedmont to northeastern North Carolina. This includes areas around the Triangle.

Tonight's snow could begin as early as late afternoon. If that happens, the precipitation would start as light rain then mix with and change to snow. Accumulations would likely be mainly on grassy surfaces but some slush may build up on roads. Locations south of the Triangle near Fayetteville can look for mainly a light rain possibly mixed with some snow as the precipitation ends. Little to no accumulation is expected in the Fayetteville area. Most of the precipitation should taper off around midnight give or take an hour or two.

Temperatures will hover in the mid 30s as the precipitation falls and then fall below freezing as the precipitation ends. Lows in the upper 20s to near 30 are expected by daybreak Saturday morning in the Triangle and Sandhills. This could create issues with black ice Saturday morning even in areas that see mainly a light rain.

For our coastal viewers, tonight's band of precipitation will mainly miss our area to the north and northwest. A few light sprinkles cannot be ruled out late tonight.

This weekend our attention then turns to the potential for a more significant winter weather system for Monday through Tuesday of next week....

Low pressure along the Gulf coast Sunday night and Monday morning will track to off the North Carolina coast by Tuesday morning. Cold air will be in place across North Carolina as precipitation spreads across the state Monday afternoon. This looks to begin as snow in the Triangle and Sandhills, but I am growing more concerned that the snow will change to sleet and freezing rain Monday night or early Tuesday morning. If that happens, it appears there would be enough icing for significant travel problems and power outages. Keep in mind that is just one scenario with this system at this point.

The forecast remains even more uncertain for early next week in coastal North Carolina. Precipitation looks certain with some rain, but that rain may change to a wintry mix for a period of time.

Since we are still a few days away, a lot could still change with the forecast for next week. It is still too early to speculate on too many specifics about this storm. Through the weekend, we should have a better idea on how all of this will come together. Check in with Weather on the Ones on News 14 Carolina through the weekend for the latest.

Lee Ringer
News 14 Carolina Meteorologist
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