From our news services
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued across nearly all of northeastern North Carolina ahead of a coastal system that is forecast to bring significant snowfall, along with some freezing rain Wednesday and into Thursday.
A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for the Dare mainland, Duck to Oregon Inlet, and the Hyde mainland and snow is not expected for Ocracoke and Hatteras. Travelers in the region should prepare for hazardous conditions.
“Forecast confidence is high that a winter storm will bring significant impacts to Eastern North Carolina tomorrow into early Thursday,” National Weather Service office Newport/Morehead City said Tuesday (Feb. 18) morning.
“Though the potential for wintry weather is high, uncertainty remains regarding the exact location and severity of the heaviest snow and ice accumulations,” NWS Newport said. “Subtle track/forecast changes can lead to significant changes to the overall precipitation type and severity.”
Low pressure moving through the central U.S. will combine with another low that will form off the coast and take a classic nor’easter track.
While northerly winds of 25 to 35 mph are likely, which may cause some brief whiteout conditions in areas that see the most snowfall, no coastal impacts are expected as onshore wind fetch will not be over the open waters for an extended period of time.
Precipitation is forecast to start Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and end by 10 a.m. on Thursday.
The best chance of snowfall totaling more than 6 inches continues to be for areas north of the Albemarle Sound, as well as Corolla and Carova.
