Winter Weather Advisories Posted for Much of N.C.

RALEIGH — The Triangle has its best shot so far this winter for some frozen precipitation.

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Adivsory for the Triad, Triangle, Sandhills and Coastal Plain at 4:30 p.m. Moisture moving in from the southwest -- combined with very cold air over much of the state -- could bring a mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain on Tuesday for much of North Carolina.

WRAL-TV5 Meteorologist Chris Thompson says the track of the storm will determine how much, if any, impact the system will have on the TV5 viewing area. If any frozen precipitation falls, it likely won't start until daybreak on Tuesday.

Because the cold air in place in Eastern North Carolina is very dry, it will take a substantial amount of precipitation for snow or sleet to make it to the ground.

The WeatherCenter forecast as of 1 p.m. for Tuesday:

snow to the north of the Triangle with a high of 35.

a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain in the Triangle with a high of 37.

sleet and freezing rain to the east with a high of 36.

rain and freezing rain in the Sandhills with a high of 40.

The National Weather Service says light snow is expected to begin over the Greensboro/Winston-Salem area by daybreak, then move into the Triangle, Sandhills and Coastal Plain after sunrise and through mid morning.

The light snow is expected to change over to a mix of sleet and freezing rain. The changeover is expected during the late morning and midday hours and continue through the afternoon. Total accumulations of ice will generally be less than one-quarter inch, however, there is still uncertainty about the exact amount of ice accumulation.

Skies should be clear on Wednesday, with a gradual warm-up to 54 degrees by Friday.

Greg Fishel and the entireWRAL-TV5 WeatherCenterwill keep you posted on changing conditions, as will WRAL OnLine. We'll also have any weather-related delays or closings as soon as they become available.

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