Another winter storm will impact the Carolinas Friday into Saturday. The storm will deliver a round of snow and freezing rain even to coastal parts of the area. Some of the accumulations could be significant. Because of the expected impacts on travel and electricity, a Winter Storm Watch (blue) has been issued for much of the Carolinas. This will likely be upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning and Ice Storm Warning tomorrow. Watch the latest video forecast on the winter storm.
Eastern and Coastal parts of the Carolinas could see 0.25 to 0.50 inches of freezing rain with central Coastal parts of North Carolina receiving up to 0.75 inches of freezing rain. Snow is also possible with the best snow accumulations expected in eastern North Carolina where several inches may fall.
Another winter storm will slam southern parts of the country late this week into the weekend as moisture overspreads a chilly, Arctic airmass across the Carolinas and parts of the Southeast.
Weather snapshot
A late-week Arctic cold front will blast through the Southeast
An approaching storm system will spread moisture into the cold air mass
Accumulating freezing rain, sleet, and snow is possible
Travel issues and power outages are possible Friday & Saturday
An Arctic cold front will move through the region Thursday. This cold front will deliver a fresh batch of very chilly, subfreezing air to the South & Southeast. As the cold air seeps into the region, this is when the first chance for a brief, light wintry mixture enters the forecast but this is not the main winter storm. Join the Firsthand Weather Supporter Group for this afternoon’s video forecast on this event.
Cold air rushing into the Southeast late week into the weekend
Areas of light wintry precipitation are possible tonight into Thursday from northern & central Arkansas into western and northern Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and northwestern Alabama. It appears this will be a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain for most areas but northern Tennessee could see snow. Light, patchy freezing rain cannot be ruled out for northeastern Georgia, North Carolina, and Upstate South Carolina.
The main event arrives Friday into early Saturday as an upper-level system approaches from the Southern Plains. This upper air disturbance will spread lift of the region leading to the development of precipitation along with a surface area of low pressure developing along the coast of the Carolinas. This will pull moisture into the subfreezing air mass over the Carolinas and parts of the Southeast leading to a mixture of wintry precipitation. It should be noted: recent trends have shifted the main precipitation axis farther east which is depicted in the future radar below. Join the Firsthand Weather Supporter Group for this afternoon’s video forecast on this event.
Animated radar Thursday night through Saturday morning
It appears there will be a strong warm layer above the surface, which means many areas from eastern North Carolina, eastern South Carolina, and possibly eastern Georgia will see freezing rain extending all the way to the coast of the Carolinas. Farther inland into the Carolinas and northeastern Georgia, sleet, and snow are possible. This includes Upstate South Carolina and western & central North Carolina.
There are some questions about the depth of the warm layer above the surface, how far inland it will extend, the intensity and coverage of precipitation, along with how far inland it extends. With that said, accumulations do look likely for parts of the Carolinas with the favored areas being eastern & coastal South Carolina, and eastern, coastal, and central North Carolina.
A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for the eastern half of North Carolina and the northeastern quadrant of South Carolina from Thursday night through Saturday morning. Parts of this will likely get upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning and Ice Storm Warning and other areas will likely be included in winter weather alerts. It appears accumulations will be enough to cause disruption to travel and power outages.
Winter Storm Watch (blue shaded areas)
It appears coastal and eastern parts of the Carolinas could see 0.25 to 0.50 inches of freezing rain with isolated higher amounts. This would cause significant issues. Farther inland, where the warm layer above the surface is less, a brief bout of freezing rain accumulating to around 0.10 to 0.20 inches is possible with an inch or two of sleet and snow. Isolated higher snow amounts are possible across northern and northeastern North Carolina.
Snow accumulation forecast (it should be noted: some of the snow totals may appear augmented on this image due to sleet mixing in so snow totals will likely be less than what this image is showing)Freezing rain accumulation forecast
Keeping a close eye on the weather pattern late this week into the weekend for the potential for wintry precipitation for parts of the South & Southeast. An Arctic cold front will move into the South on Thursday and into the Southeast on Friday, delivering a big shot of cold with temperatures dipping to or below freezing. Watch the video forecast on this system!
Cold air mass moving into the region from late week into the weekend
The focus then shifts to a low pressure that could develop near the northern Gulf of Mexico, tracking east-northeast across the region from Friday into Saturday. Depending on the track of the low, it could spread moisture into the subfreezing air mass across parts of the South & Southeast during this timeframe. As expected this far out, there is a lot of uncertainty and the models are disagreeing with the specifics; however, the pattern is favorable for the possibility of wintry precipitation from Thursday in central and south Texas, possibly spreading east on Friday into southern parts of Mississippi, southern Alabama, southern Georgia and Carolinas by Saturday. Watch the video forecast on this system!
Forecast radar late week into the weekend
Again, this is far out so a lot can and will change over the coming days. Don’t focus too much on the specifics but just take a mental note to keep checking back for updates as we gain more confidence in the forecast over the coming days. Watch the video forecast on this system!
Firsthand Weather is currently working on an updated snowfall & ice accumulation map based on the current trends and latest model guidance that is rolling in. Below is some of the recent model guidance rolling in. Keep in mind, this is not a forecast and this is one run from one model so look at these images with that in mind.
As parts of the South & Southeast prepare for the incoming winter storm later tonight through Sunday, a host of winter weather alerts have been issued for the region. Winter Storm Warnings, Ice Storm Warnings, Winter Weather Advisories, and Winter Storm Watches extend from Oklahoma to South Carolina. Keep in mind, these will change throughout the day and additional areas will be added and certain areas will see upgrades. Join the Firsthand Weather Supporter Group.
Current Winter Weather Alerts
Here is a closer look at the winter weather alerts. Keep in mind the pink is an Ice Storm Warning, the dark blue is a Winter Storm Warning, the light blue is a Winter Storm Watch, and the dark gray area is a Winter Weather Advisory.
A Tsunami Advisory has been issued for the entire West Coast this morning! The coast of California, the coast of Oregon, the coast of Washington, the coast of Alaska, and the coast of Hawaii are under the advisory. Vulnerable areas may flood.
A TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT WHICH INCLUDES THE COASTAL AREAS OF CALIFORNIA, OREGON, WASHINGTON, BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA FROM THE CAL./MEXICO BORDER TO ATTU ALASKA. https://t.co/afbnHt2Uz1https://t.co/jzlY6tqgFd
The advisory was issued after an earthquake and volcanic eruptions in the Tonga Islands.
1.14.2021: Large volcanic eruption near Tonga (Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano) today as seen from outer space. Shown on visible imagery using the Himawari satellite. #hiwx#tsunami#earthquakepic.twitter.com/zOTj6Qu1Wv
A tsunami has already been realized for parts of Tonga Island after the volcanic eruption.
Breaking: A tsunami warning is in effect for the island of Tonga after a volcanic eruption. A video shows a possible tsunami wave hitting the island. pic.twitter.com/rCarK7ShD8
If you live along coastal areas of the West Coast or in Hawaii or Alaska, move farther inland, and if you have family or friends in the region, give them a call and let them know.
While tsunami is not expected to be large, a 1-3 foot wall of water is possible so please stay off of beaches. Dangerous waves and rip currents are expected today for the aforementioned coastal areas.
A significant winter storm will slam parts of the county over the weekend. The storm is unfolding across the Northern Plains this morning and will dive south and east through the weekend into early next week. The South, Southeast, and Tennessee Valley can expect impacts overnight Saturday into Sunday with the impacts moving into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Monday into Tuesday. Significant snow and ice accumulations are possible that will disrupt travel and lead to power outages. Watch a Facebook Live on this storm in the Firsthand Weather Supporter Group later today.
A high-impact winter storm will slam millions Friday through Tuesday as it dives southeast. The storm system will provide areas of heavy snow and areas of heavy freezing rain that will lead to travel concerns and could leave some without power for weeks.
Snow is expected as far south as I-20 with the storm system with significant snow accumulations for parts of the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Southeast, Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, and Northeast. Farther southeast, significant ice accumulations are possible for northeastern parts of Georgia and parts of the Carolinas that will cause some major power outage issues and tree damage. Begin planning now for a significant winter storm that will disrupt travel and electricity. Watch the latest video on this storm!
The storm system will impact the Northern Plains and Midwest Friday followed by parts of the Ohio Valley, South, and Southeast late Saturday into Sunday, and the Northeastern quadrant of the country Monday into Tuesday.
