New winter storm blog + latest forecast (ice, ugh)
Introducing 'Charlotte Weather Watch' — a live blog
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Check out The Ledger’s ‘Charlotte Weather Watch’ for up-to-date information and insights on the effect of the storm
The big news of the week is the winter storm headed our way. At this point, for Charlotte, it looks like an ice storm that could cause major power outages and disruptions.
To keep you informed and updated on how this storm will affect your life in the next few days, The Charlotte Ledger today is launching Charlotte Weather Watch, a live blog with regular updates.
It lives in a single online location, giving you information and insights as the storm approaches and moves through the Charlotte region.
From forecast changes to school closures to travel conditions and tips, The Ledger’s Charlotte Weather Watch will give you real-time updates as conditions evolve — and in a pleasant, easy-to-read online format that minimizes clicking around for the info you want and need.
Our core team of Lindsey Banks, Ashley Fahey and Tony Mecia will keep on top of it, along with our broader network of contacts and local writers.
Stay in touch: But you’re an important part of it, too. We want to know what you’re seeing and what questions you have, and we’ll work to get answers. Or if you see something notable, snap a photo and send it to us. Our email is editor@cltledger.com, or you can reply to this email or leave a comment by clicking on the word bubble at the top of this file (paying Ledger members only).
Check back often for the latest on what is happening.
We have several updates from this morning, with more on the way this afternoon, tomorrow and this weekend.
—Tony Mecia
This will be a storm of sleet and freezing rain — not snow; expected to hit Saturday afternoon
by Steve Lyttle
Some of you are getting storm fatigue. You’ve been hearing about the upcoming winter storm for several days, and you can’t escape the bad news. That’s understandable.
So today, let’s start with good news. It’s going to be in the upper 50s today in Charlotte. That’s actually nice, because it will give us a chance to prepare for that storm you don’t want to hear about.
That’s the end of the good news. Now it’s time to see where we stand with the weekend storm. Here is what we know:
Precipitation is likely to arrive in the Charlotte area around mid-afternoon Saturday, although it could be as late as 6 p.m.
The precipitation will continue Saturday night, Sunday and part of Sunday night.
The storm will be followed by very cold air, with single-digit low temperatures likely Monday night.
The precipitation will not be snow! There could be a bit of snow at the beginning, but this will be a storm of sleet and freezing rain.
Widespread power outages: Freezing rain ice accumulations are forecast to be between 1/2 and 1 inch, and that’s enough to cause widespread power outages that could last several days, in some cases. There are two ways in which the Charlotte area could escape considerable ice-related damage:
The layer of cold air above the ground is sufficient to cause more sleet and less freezing rain. Sleet — while gross and not good for the roads — is FAR better than freezing rain.
The low-pressure system contains what is called a “dry slot,” which is a precipitation-free area in a portion of its circulation area. If Charlotte gets into a “dry slot,” that will cut down on the precipitation.
It’s Thursday, and we’re more than 48 hours before the storm arrives. The various systems that will conspire to create our winter storm are still developing. We will learn a lot more today.
Forecast:
TODAY: Clouds, for the most part, with a few mid-day showers possible. Mild, with a high near 55.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Low of 38.
FRIDAY: Overcast, with a few periods of rain possible. Cooler, with a high of 47.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy, with some light rain (or even freezing drizzle) possible. But there shouldn’t be any ice accumulations. Low of 28.
SATURDAY: Overcast and quite cold, with a high of 33. Sleet will move into the area by mid- to late afternoon.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy and cold, with sleet, mixing with and probably changing to freezing rain late at night. Low near 20.
SUNDAY: Overcast and cold, with freezing rain much of the time. High of 29.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy, with freezing rain ending, probably as a brief period of snow. Low of 24.
MONDAY: Any morning clouds will give way to sunshine by late morning, but it will remain quite cold, with a high of 33.
TUESDAY: After a frigid low of 7 degrees, we’ll have sunshine and a high of 34.
WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and clouds and cold. High of 42.
BEYOND: There are some signals for another storm system next weekend, but the details are still hazy.
Steve Lyttle is a longtime Charlotte-area weather writer with a passion for meteorology and delivering smart, insightful updates that aim to inform and educate. Follow his “Weather With Steve” Facebook page for daily updates on Charlotte weather.
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➡️ Go to The Ledger’s Charlotte Weather Watch live blog
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