Snow dwindling but cold to stick around

RALEIGH, N.C. — Come Wednesday, North Carolinians will still be dealing with a day-long storm that dumped up to 8 inches of snow on the state.

"The widespread snow is beginning to taper off and shift to the east," WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel said late Tuesday evening.

Louisburg, Sanford and Fayetteville got 6 inches, while Smithfield received 5 inches, Fishel said. Three inches were reported in Rocky Mount and 3.5 inches in Raleigh, while 2 inches fell in Goldsboro and Chapel Hill.

The high temperature was 35 degrees Tuesday, so little melting occurred.

A winter weather advisory for black ice remained in effect until 9 a.m. Wednesday as a low-pressure system moves northeast away from the state.

A light snowfall will continue in parts of the state overnight with an additional half-inch of snowfall possible. Temperatures were in the upper 20s and headed into the middle 20s.

Skies will be clear and cold throughout the night, with temperatures dropping.

"In the morning, temperatures will be well below freezing during the morning rush hour, so even though it is going to be sunny, the roads could still be slick," Fishel said.

More than 750 organizations have already delayed or canceled openings in anticipation of icy roads.

As we head into Wednesday afternoon, the state will see substantial snow melt as temperatures rise above freezing. However, a full melt isn't likely to happen until Thursday when temperatures rise near 50 degrees.

"As we look ahead, Thursday will bring more substantial warming with a high temperature of 48. Then Friday, a high of 57," Fishel said.