Another weekend, another winter storm

Happy Friday! All eyes are on the next 48 hours as a pair of powerful storm systems bring widespread snow to the Carolinas. While there certainly will be winners and losers, models are in good agreement that virtually every community across the Tar Heel & Palmetto states will see measurable snow. The million-dollar question is, as always, how much?

Expect a mostly cloudy day across the WCCB Charlotte viewing area as a powerful upper-level low sweeps into the Carolinas from the northwest. Temperatures will struggle to get out of the 20s and 30s this afternoon, just as they have for much of this past week. Scattered snow showers will sweep into the High Country by sunset, becoming heavier as we move into the evening. The snow will slowly, but steadily, spread into the Carolinas overnight into Saturday morning.

The heaviest flakes will likely fall around the Metro and points just to the south as we roll through the day. Most of the moisture will clear off to the east overnight into Sunday as the moisture and energy from the upper-level low hands off to a coastal low. Most locations can count on at least 2″ of snow, with the highest totals likely in the mountains and Metro & southward.

Regardless of what happens this weekend, bitterly cold air spills into the Carolinas from the northwest. Lows likely dip back into the subzeroes, single-digits, and teens as we kick off February’s first workweek.

Today: Cloudy and chilly. PM mountain snow High: 41°. Wind: E 5-10.

Tonight: Overcast. Scattered snow showers late. Low: 23°. Wind: NE 5-15. Gusts: 20+

Saturday: Snow, heavy at times. Accumulations up to 2-5″ possible. High: 26°. Wind: NE 10-20. Gusts: 25+

Saturday Night: Scattered snow showers clear out overnight. Accumulations up to 2″ possible. Low: 15°. Wind: N 10-20. Gusts: 25+

Sunday: Clear and cold. High: 34°. Wind: NW 5-15. Gusts: 20+