Our first in a series of winter weather opportunities begins Saturday December 20.

Now that we are approaching an event just inside of the 7 day “confidence zone”, we want to give you a heads up on the setup. Here is the customary Disclaimer…There is wide disagreement between varying models and even amongst their members so uncertainty remains high in the long range.

Timeline:

Beginning Friday, Low pressure with Pacific origins will dip south towards the Gulf of Mexico. Saturday, this strengthening Low will begin begin picking up all of that Gulf of Mexico moisture sending it north and east. By Sunday morning, the storm system should be centered along the Delmarva peninsula heading northeast.

Temperatures:

The run-up to this potential event regarding temperatures is less than ideal. With near normal temperatures forecast through next week, and only a few nights for radiational cooling (clear calm skies and low temperatures at night) the ground temperatures are likely to be above freezing. The thickness values for the Piedmont favor cooling but only as the system approaches becoming more enhanced after it passes. In English, this means the upper atmosphere will support frozen precipitation about the same time as the storm arrives and definitely after. Will enough cold be in place when the storm arrives is our most important question and will define the Piedmont impact.

Precipitation:

This is typical for North Carolina and usually indicates a winter mix of precipitation rather than an all snow event for most people. We expect to see snow in the mountains but depending where the track of the low sets up, there will be that Rain/Freezing Rain/Sleet/Snow line somewhere across our area.

A more inland path over NC typically results in:

• Greatest coverage of winter weather in the western piedmont and NC Mountains

• Southerly winds from the low pressure system

• Warmer temperatures moving well inland

• Rain or even severe weather over central and eastern NC

A slightly offshore path (50-100 miles) allows for:

• Northerly winds

• Colder temperatures

• Greater coverage of winter weather in the piedmont and western coastal plain

• The precipitation shield not extending as far to the west, oftentimes excluding areas such as Greensboro and Winston-Salem altogether

If the storm system tracks farther offshore:

• Cold air will be pulled all the way to the coast

• The precipitation shield will mainly stay east of I-95

• Coastal regions will receive significant amounts of snow

• The Piedmont and western Coastal Plain will receive little to no precipitation

This far out and with very little model agreement, it is too early to say who will get what and how much. All we can say is that this system needs to have your attention as this will be a high-volume travel weekend.

Bottom Line:

This is a developing situation and looks to bring some areas of the Piedmont some winter weather. It is too early to talk about accumulation as there is no model consensus. Everything is dependent on the track of this system and the timing of cold temperature arrival. Right now, there is a wide spread in what we could receive…Significant Snow event to All Rain for the Piedmont. NC Weather Happens will be monitoring…