Western North Carolina Foothills– As we look ahead to Sunday night into Monday morning, the region is expected to experience a light freezing rain event that could lead to some minor travel concerns, particularly on elevated surfaces such as bridges and overpasses. Here is a detailed breakdown of what to expect and how it may impact our area.
Sunday Afternoon: A Quiet Start The first signs of the system will arrive Sunday afternoon in the form of a few brief snow flurries or sleet showers. However, much of this initial activity is unlikely to reach the ground, as dry air at the surface will inhibit precipitation from making its way down. For most of the area, this initial phase will have little to no impact.
Sunday Night: Precipitation Becomes Scattered As the evening progresses, a low-pressure system will begin to move closer to the area, increasing the chances of precipitation. This will primarily take the form of scattered light rain showers. However, a key factor to monitor is the presence of a warm air layer between 3,000 and 11,000 feet above the surface. Temperatures in this layer are expected to reach around 36°F, which will cause snowflakes falling from the upper atmosphere to melt into raindrops. When these raindrops reach the surface, they may encounter temperatures close to or slightly below freezing, especially in isolated areas.
Ice Accumulation and Impacts With surface temperatures struggling to dip to the freezing mark in most locations, the potential for ice accumulation will be limited. However, a few spots in the higher elevations, particularly in the Black Mountains (the dark pink-shaded areas on the map), could see ice begin to accumulate on elevated surfaces such as trees, power lines, and roads. Accumulations are expected to range between 0.10 and 0.25 inches in these areas, which could lead to isolated power issues and slick conditions on bridges and overpasses.
In other parts of the region, including Morganton, Hickory, Taylorsville, and surrounding areas, ice accumulation will generally remain below 0.10 inches, if any occurs at all. This is unlikely to result in power outages or widespread travel disruptions. Most of the region will see either trace amounts of ice or just plain rain, with no significant issues expected.
Monday Morning: Warming Temperatures As the sun rises on Monday, temperatures are expected to climb above freezing relatively quickly, ending the freezing rain threat. Rainfall totals for the system will be modest, ranging from 0.25 to 0.75 inches across the region. This should help alleviate any lingering icy patches on roadways by mid-morning.
Key Takeaways
- The highest risk for ice accumulation will be along the eastern facing slopes of the Blue Ridge.
- Most of the area will see minimal impacts, with only trace amounts of ice expected on elevated surfaces.
- Bridges and overpasses may become slick Sunday night into early Monday morning, so exercise caution while traveling.
- Temperatures will rise above freezing quickly on Monday morning, ending any icing concerns.
- The winter storm watch for the mountains of Burke, McDowell, and Caldwell counties was upgraded to a winter weather advisory for light amounts of ice for a 24-hour period from 1 PM Sunday until 1 PM Monday. There is no advisory, watch, or warning for any other part of the area as of 3 PM Saturday.
While this freezing rain event will not be a major winter storm, it’s always better to stay informed and prepared. Be cautious on the roads, especially on elevated surfaces, and stay tuned for updates as conditions develop.
