Post Time: Friday 8:20 AM

Before we get to the cold, we have to weather the storms!!!

This from the Raleigh NWS Office:

"DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
GUSTY WINDS ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY... AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT
APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. A STRONG STORM OR TWO IS POSSIBLE AHEAD
OF THE FRONT... ESPECIALLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON".

The Setup:

A fast approaching Low pressure system coming out of the Gulf will move into the Ohio River Valley. Meanwhile, Cold Air Damming will be in place over Piedmont NC with seasonably cool temperatures. This CAD feature will erode throughout Saturday and Saturday night with temperatures rising Sunday into the mid 60’s.

There will not only be a wild temperature change, but this fast-moving system will create sufficient instability to be a severe storm threat for our region. Strongest storms would be more favorable in areas east of the Triad but as the day progresses Sunday into Sunday Evening, pretty much everyone in NC will be under some sort of Watch or Warning. Not shown, is an image for Helicity which is a measure of rotation in the atmosphere. There are decent indicators for rotating storms which means there is a minor Tornado Threat but a downdraft wind is more likely. Saturday and Sunday keep your weather radio handy and keep an eye on the sky.

The Approaching Cold:

Once we get this storm out of the way, prepare for the coldest air of the season to arrive. All models agree on this occurring and all other indicators point to it.

The air needs to be extremely dry for these types of temperatures, so checking the Dew Points, we see them as low as minus 10 so this will definitely be an Extreme Cold!!!

Take the time now to prepare plumbing if you have not already done so and remember that Pets Get Cold Too!

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NC Weather Happens. Enjoy it!

PS: Thanks to RW for suggesting that we post the TIME on the top of the article. If anyone else has a suggestion, just let us know.