Friday night snowfall will set the tone for the weekend

This Friday morning the National Weather Service office in Wakefield issued a Winter Storm Warning which covers Mecklenburg county. Clouds ahead of the approaching storm system overspread the area near sunrise and will continue to thicken and lower as the day progresses. Temperatures which began the morning at 19º in Clarksville, Boydton, and Chase City (South Hill dropped to a "balmy" 20º) will climb to the mid-30s this afternoon.

Besides the proximity of the storm the other factor in determining when snow will begin is the bone dry Arctic air in place across the region. When the precipitation does arrive overhead it will evaporate for a while, moistening the air column. While that is happening there could be some scattered flakes late this afternoon, but the steadier precipitation will occur after that moistening is sufficient enough to allow the snow to reach the ground. Thus, accumulating snow will delay until after dark this evening.

Total expected snowfall is as shown here:

A slightly heavier band of snow is expected along and north of U.S. Route 58 as the storm system scoots across the Carolinas. There is still a potential of some sleet and freezing rain close to the Virginia / North Carolina border, so there may be an icy crust to the snowpack when all is said and done. 

The center of the low pressure looks to be over the Outer Banks by 7 o'clock Saturday morning, ending the precipitation locally by sunrise tomorrow. Saturday will then turn sunny and breezy, with afternoon temperatures climbing to near 40º as the storm system pulls away from the coast. Clear skies and the snowpack will aid in dropping overnight temperatures back into the teens by dawn Sunday. Any road or sidewalk surfaces which are still wet will thus refreeze Saturday night. 

Sunday looks to be less breezy, with full sunshine helping afternoon highs climb into the upper 30s. Monday holds the promise of being somewhat warmer (still below January averages), but an even colder air mass will settle into the area on Tuesday. The deep freeze continues!