UPDATED
Forecasters Warning Of Winter Storm Impacts This Weekend
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ASHEBORO N.C. – After a week filled with rumors about snow coming this weekend forecasters are saying they have a more accurate model for what is coming this weekend, and it doesn’t look good.
Today the National Weather Service in Raleigh is saying Randolph County is set to see a wintery mix of sleet, freezing rain, snow, and high wind gusts from Saturday night through Sunday night resulting in dangerous roads and widespread power outages.
The current forecast says a wintry mix of precip will expand across central North Carolina Sunday morning. By 1 P.M. on Sunday afternoon snow will overspread much of central NC, transitioning to freezing rain south and east of Raleigh. By the late afternoon warm air moves north up across the eastern half of NC, changing the wintery mix to all rain from east to west. A wintry mix of snow and sleet will continue along and north of the I-85 corridor, with freezing rain between I-85 and I-95. By Sunday evening the western edge of the rain will gradually move westward. The rain could be heavy at times. Meanwhile, freezing rain will continue across the central Piedmont, with a snow/sleet mix across the Triad. Precip is expected to gradually diminish Sunday night.
Randolph County Forecast
Saturday night there will be a slight chance of rain and snow between 8 P.M. and 11 P.M., then a chance of snow throughout the night. The low overnight will be around 24°F, with a 50% chance of precipitation of less than a tenth of an inch. On Sunday forecasters say there is a 100% chance of precipitation with snow and sleet before 11am, then sleet between 11am and 5pm, then freezing rain after 5pm. Temperatures on Sunday will just barely reach above freeing with a high of 34°F. Sunday night freezing rain and snow will continue through 10pm, changing to snow likely between 10 P.M. and 2 A.M. Lows on Sunday night are predicted to be around around 28°F which will keep roads icey and dangerous.
CHECK OUT OUR TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR WINTER WEATHER
How Much Snow & Ice?
Snow: For Sunday the National Weather Service is predicting multiple inches of snow along and north of the I-85 corridor with current estimates around 6-10 inches. In the Triad, more moderate amounts are predicted between 3-5 inches, tapering off to 1-2 inches as you go south and east.
Ice: Accumulation amounts of up to one-quarter of an inch of ice are expected for the Sandhills and western Coastal
Plain Counties, central and northern I-95 corridor. Scotty Powell, a forecaster with the Carolina Weather Group says he is predicting 2/10 of an inch for Asheboro and Randolph County in general.
Impacts
Sunday travel will be dangerous where snow and ice accumulations occur. NC DOT’s Triad Region says they have already started operations to prepare for the storm.
Brining operations for the incoming snow have begun, but we encourage everyone to get supplies prior to the expected winter weather event & stay inside, remain patient & safe after it arrives. Visit https://t.co/q0sZ7OBb2f for safe routes & https://t.co/xhc9EFvdV4 for tips #ncwx pic.twitter.com/PE6tmZ6LH9
— NCDOT Triad Area (@NCDOT_Triad) January 13, 2022
This storm is expected to bring more than just a wintery mix with occasional wind gusts in excess of 25 mph. The National Weather Service says that these wind gusts, when/if coupled with ice accumulation and/or heavy snow
accumulation may result in downed trees and subsequent power outages.
“There will be impacts no matter the accumulation of snow, sleet, or ice. Temperatures are gonna be pretty cold and we’re not gonna warm up for a couple days afterwards, so we’ll see long lasting impacts like icy roads, power outages and such.” says Scotty Powell, a Meteorologist with the Carolina Weather Group. “It’s a good idea for folks to really take the storm serious and to be prepared for the loss of power for a couple days.”
The National Weather Service continues to stress that we are still 3 days out from the start of the storm and says changes to the forecast are inevitable.
Keep an eye on Randolph News Now for updates as they become available. Weather alerts are automatically posted to our Facebook and Twitter day or night. You can also get alerts by text or email from Randolph County from Emergency Services by signing up for REACT (Randolph Emergency Alert Communication Technology).
You can see current Closings & Delays on our site as well a report one here. Be sure to share your snow photos with us by submitting them on our website and we will post a gallery when we’re able. Closer to the storm we will post a page to submit reports for accumulation amounts.