Snow, then sleet and ice headed for Triangle
Gov. Pat McCrory and Tony Tata, state Secretary of Transportation declared North Carolina "well prepared" Monday for a winter storm that will deliver snow, sleet and ice to the state.
Posted — UpdatedA chilly high pressure system pushing down from the north collided along the North Carolina-Virginia border late Monday afternoon with a moisture-packed low from the south, WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said.
"It's a battle close to the Virginia line, and there the cold air wins out," she said.
Flakes and flurries were reported as early as 4 p.m. in central North Carolina, but the brunt of the storm won't be evident until Tuesday morning.
What, where, when
Monday will be mostly dry, Gardner said.
"Most of this will not happen until the evening commute or even a little bit after that," she said, noting that a few flakes could begin in the north and western parts of the Triangle by 4 p.m.
By 10 or 11 p.m., the snow changes to sleet and overnight will be mostly freezing rain.
Precipitation tapers off after sunrise, leaving the potential for power outages where ice accumulates.
"Tuesday is going to be a very cold day, so we won't see very much melting," Gardner said, adding, "Tuesday is going to be very, very messy on the roads."
Raleigh could see a quarter to a half an inch of ice accumulate on roads and surfaces. That is enough to post a threat for power outages where heavy ice weighs down tree branches and power lines.
"You'll want to plan for power outages," Gardner said. "Have an emergency kit available Monday by 5 p.m."
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