PIEDMONT TRIAD, N.C. (WGHP) — A Winter Storm Warning will go into effect at 1 pm Saturday until 1 pm Monday.
It’s going to be a pleasant day weather-wise, despite mostly cloudy skies. There are a few stray showers in the extreme southern Piedmont this morning, but those showers will continue to move eastward through the morning drive. Temperatures are going to be very seasonable as highs reach the upper-40s this afternoon. Preparations for the weekend winter storm should be completed by the end of the day.
Tonight, mostly cloudy skies are expected, but a northeast wind will cause lows to drop to the lower-20s by daybreak. Once temperatures dip below freezing (around 2 am), we will continue to have below-freezing conditions until the middle of next week.
Early Saturday, we will have cloudy skies but there will be a few hours of last-minute preparations to be completed. By afternoon, we should be where we plan to stay for several days because sleet, perhaps mixed with snow initially, will move into the Piedmont from west to east. Saturday evening, the precipitation is going to begin to change over from sleet to freezing rain across the southern Piedmont, then the Triad, and finally our counties along the NC/VA line overnight. From then on, we are anticipating a mostly freezing rain event through Sunday evening.
Ice accural will have a major impact on the Piedmont, both from the standpoint of producing slick conditions for travelers, but also because of the risk of power outages. Generally, 1/4 of an inch of ice will start to break tree limbs and 1/2 of an inch of ice will bring substantial power outages.
There is a high likelihood of 1/2 inch or more in ice accrual over the southern and eastern Piedmont (Triangle to I-95). In the Triad, we may have 2 to 3 inches of sleet along with 1/4 to 1/2 an inch of ice. Prepare for power outages, have emergency supplies on hand for both home and car, and make sure all prescription medications are filled and on-hand.
Highs over the weekend will stay in the mid-20s and precipitation will wind down by Sunday evening.
Dangerously cold weather is expected as the work week begins. We will stay below freezing Monday through Wednesday, early afternoon. Lows Tuesday morning are going to be in the single digits with sub-zero wind chills.
We will have mostly sunny skies Monday and Tuesday, then partly cloudy skies on Wednesday. Highs finally rise to the mid-30s later Wednesday afternoon, but on Thursday, we return to high temperatures near 30 degrees…