PIEDMONT TRIAD, N.C. (WGHP) — A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect until 11 a.m. for Ashe, Grayson (Virginia), and Watauga Counties.
We are starting with clear, cold conditions across the Piedmont this morning. A light, northwest breeze is producing bitterly cold wind chills, and we will continue to have wind chills well below freezing through the day. Expect clouds to increase by lunchtime and through the afternoon, with highs climbing to the mid-30s.
Partly to mostly cloudy skies are ahead for the overnight hours. Lows are going to dip into the upper-teens.
Friday is likely to be cloudy all day, and highs are going to return to the mid-30s. A Winter Storm Watch goes into effect at 4 p.m. Friday and will stay in effect until 1 p.m. on Sunday.
An area of low pressure is forecast to form along the southeastern U.S. coast, ushering in a frigid, northeast wind as we head into the weekend. As the low intensifies and moves to the north-northeast, Atlantic moisture will be tossed westward, producing snow across the state.
It’s reasonable to expect at least 3 inches of snow across the Piedmont, but we are expecting a bullseye of higher snow totals with this storm. Where, exactly, that bullseye occurs is still in question, and until we have a better handle on the ultimate track of the coastal low, that part of the forecast is going to stay uncertain. The snow forecast for today is preliminary and should not be considered the final call, but a guideline to get preparations underway.
Highs on Saturday are going to be near 20 degrees with wind chills in the single digits. Lows Saturday night will be in the mid-teens and highs on Sunday are only going to make it to the upper-20s under partly cloudy skies.
We will have more sunshine on Monday as high pressure slides into the Carolinas for the beginning of the weekend. Morning temperatures are forecast to dive into the lower teens before rebounding to the mid-30s Monday afternoon. Highs are forecast to steadily warm up Tuesday and Wednesday with mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies. Highs are going to rise to the upper-30s on Tuesday, and lower-40s on Wednesday…