Quick Tuesday update on wintry weather

With a high probability of an impactful winter storm this coming weekend this is a brief - and atypical - Tuesday blog update for Mecklenburg County. This graphic illustrates the thinking at NWS Wakefield:

It's still too early to trust any maps of accumulation amounts, but the availability of abundant moisture and cold air is enough to ring the ATTENTION! bell.

Wintry precipitation looks to begin late Friday night and last throughout most of the weekend. In addition to concerns about shovelable snow (several inches of the white stuff), there is also concern about ice accumulation. Above-freezing air intruding just above the cold wedge at the surface could lead to freezing rain and/or sleet. Ice is the nefarious agent in winter, slicking roads and sidewalks and possibly leading to power outages from downed tree limbs on power lines.

Tomorrow's and Friday's blog posts will have access to more refined forecast details. Meanwhile, stay tuned to local forecasts and prepare for wintry impacts this coming weekend.