Will weather dampen weekend holiday shopping?

Triangle businesses are rolling out sales and bargains to attract shoppers this weekend, usually one of the busiest shopping times of the year.

With rain and some snow in the forecast, shoppers who waited until the weekend before Christmas could get wet as they look for those last-minute gifts. Counties across central and northern North Carolina were expected to see the wintry mix into Saturday morning before things dry out by the afternoon, WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel said.

Patricia Friedman, owner of Accipiter, 2046 Clark Ave. in Raleigh, said the weekend before Christmas typically accounts for 25 percent of all her holiday sales.

“Certainly if the weather was significant enough it would impact everybody’s sales," Friedman said Friday.

Going into this weekend, Friedman said she anticipates shoppers will turn out despite the weather.

"People don't have much time and they're going to have to come out regardless," Friedman said.

The threat of rain and snow had some shoppers thinking twice about venturing out Friday afternoon.

"I really didn't want to come out in this kind of weather, but luckily it's (the snow) not sticking," said Jennifer Larrimore, a shopper at Target in Cary.

Fellow Target shopper Pam Messina braved the conditions as well.

"It's bad weather, but I wanted to try to get it done before-hand. Plus, I have many things to do this weekend so I wanted to make sure I got it done," Messina said.