Ice storm in the mountains, cold and steady rain south

• Ice Storm Warning for the Mountains
• Cold Steady Rain
• Flooding Concerns Grow Midweek
• Thursday Cold Front
• Another Weekend Storm

• Ice Storm Warning – Avery Co & Burke Co Mountains
  • Until Wednesday 7am
  • Up to 0.5″ of ice accumulation east of Hwy 221
  • Impacts: Icy roads, power outages, tree damage
• Winter Storm Warning – Ashe & Watuaga Co
  • Until Wednesday 4pm
  • Up to .5″ of ice, 1-2″ of snow/sleet in highest elevations
  • Impacts: Nearly impossible travel, power outages, tree damage
• Winter Weather Advisory – Alexander, Iredell, Catawba, Burke, Caldwell Co
  • Until Wednesday 7am
  • Up to .1″ of ice with up to .25″ of ice for higher elevations
  • Impacts: Slippery roads, isolated power outages

A classic cold air damming setup is keeping the Carolinas cold and damp, with wintry weather in the mountains and foothills and steady rain for the foothills and Piedmont. Freezing rain in the high country could cause up to .5″ of ice accumulation, leading to hazardous travel, tree damage and power outages — especially above 3500′. Travel is highly discourages within the high country.

In the Foothills, freezing rain will likely lead to .1″ to .25″ of accumulation of ice on elevated surfaces before the freezing rain changes over to a cold rain as temperatures rise above freezing this afternoon. Outside of the mountains, expect a chilly, soaking rain with 1-3″ of rainfall possible by Thursday with highs not getting out of the upper 30s to lower 40s. Localized flooding will be a concern in the low lying areas of the foothills and for poor drainage areas.

A strong cold front arrives Thursday, bringing a final round of heavy rain and gusty winds. Temperatures will warm in to the 60s Thursday afternoon before falling sharply into the 30s overnight. We’ll get a brief break from the wet weather Friday with highs topping out in the low 50s, before another round of wintry weather for the mountains and heavy rain for the Piedmont. This will increase the flooding concerns this weekend with an additonal 1-2″ of rainfall possible on already saturdated ground.