NWS: Winter Storm Watch now in effect for much of Eastern NC

1) Chances continue to increase that our area will be impacted by significant ice, sleet, and snow beginning as early as late Thursday night, and peaking Friday into Friday night.

2) Adjustments and fine tuning will be made, as snow, ice, and sleet amounts and locations are difficult to determine when the event is several days away.

3) Icing is the biggest threat with this winter storm. We are forecasting a quarter to up to a half inch of ice accretion in some areas (see attached map of forecast ice totals). These amounts, if realized, would down trees and power lines, which in turn would cause power outages. Travel may become extremely hazardous to nearly impossible. The locations and amounts of ice accretion are subject to change over the next couple of days as we fine tune the forecast.

4) The best chance for accumulating snow will come on Friday night, as the low pressure system begins to move away from the NC coast. This will bring in colder air and allow for a change of ice and sleet over to predominantly snow for several hours before ending Saturday morning. The northern Outer Banks, which are not currently included in a winter storm watch, may eventually need to be included, as the area of accumulating snow will be very near the northern Outer Banks north of Oregon Inlet Friday night into early Saturday morning.

5) North winds will strengthen Thursday night and peak Friday. At this time, significant coastal flooding is not a big concern, though if forecast winds increase over the next couple days, we will highlight coastal flood threats in later briefings.