A complex weather pattern continues to evolve here in the Eastern US and players on the table are coming together to produce winter weather later this week.
A look at the water vapor image this afternoon indicates the cold front that moved across the region this morning. Colder air is moving southeast thanks in part to a massive area of high pressure extending from Canada down into the Plains states.
Meanwhile, an upper feature getting ready to come on shore the Pacific Northwest will dive southeast through the Rockies and by Wednesday will cruise through the Southern tier of the nation.
The graphic below is a layout of what we know at this time. We have a moderate confidence forecast at this juncture due to the timing of this system. That part seems to be locked in. The confidence is low in regards to amounts and precipitation types as we appear to be dealing with a relatively fast moving system.
Storm Timing…
Summary…
A winter storm is expected to impact a significant portion of North Carolina on Wednesday and could impact schedules, travel and some utilities for Wednesday and possibly beyond depending on just how much precipitation falls. Preparations should begin for impacts locally.
At this time we have set the Winter Storm Index on the higher end of Level 1 “Social Media Talk”. Tomorrow’s blog update will likely include a “first call” map for precipitation types/amounts. For a significant portion of the coverage area, I would anticipate mixing of precip types will be a factor in the forecast. Stay Tuned!
Ahem… Gulf of what??? 😄 And thanks for the forecast!