For many, it’s a Southern tradition.
The first winter storm comes through, and teases you with images of snowflakes and sledding. What it typically delivers is rain sent with temperatures just enough above freezing to be miserable. Many meteorologists are leaning toward that prediction for this evening’s storm.
But there’s always a chance, right?
“There could be some wet snow mixed in, even down to (Kinston), at the tail-end of this system,” Accuweather Senior Meteorologist Paul Walker said. “As far as accumulating snow, I think it stays to your north and west. As you get up toward Raleigh, there might be 1-3 inches. Charlotte looks like it might be around an inch or two possible.”
N.C. Emergency Management posted on Facebook late Wednesday afternoon it expects 2-4 inches in the mountains and Charlotte, 1-3 inches in the Piedmont Triad and Research Triangle and 1-2 inches in the northeastern part of the state and Albemarle Sound.
The wintery weather comes on the heels of record high temperatures. Carl Beaman, head golf professional at Kinston Country Club, said activity on the course doubled over recent days because of the mild temperatures.
“Well, obviously, golf is an outdoor activity, and the weather dictated whether people can play or not,” he said. “As most courses go, we have some die-hards who will play no matter what – as long as the course is open, they’ll play. When we have guys playing on a regular basis because of the weather, that’s definitely a plus for budgets and everything else around.”
Phillip Bland at Captain’s Corner in Kinston hasn’t been thrilled with how the recent weather interrupted his duck hunting, but otherwise found it fine.
“As a duck hunter, it kind of sucks at times, with the hot weather, but I like it,” he said. “Can’t go wrong in January with 70-degree weather.”
Bland added that he’d love it if it did snow. According to WNCT TV-9 Chief Meteorologist David Sawyer, Eastern North Carolina usually gets snow when a storm off the coast pushes in moisture from the ocean and draws in cold air from the northwest.
That’s not the case with this event.
“What’s going on here, really three strikes are against us,” Sawyer said. “Because of the record-warm temperatures we’ve recently had, the ground is extremely warm for this time of year. Therefore, it’s going to melt anything that might form very quickly on our surfaces.
“The second strike is, the cold air is likely going to be delayed moving in, as opposed to meshing, or coming together with the moisture. The cold air is going to come in as the moisture is exiting, so they are not likely to produce any frozen precipitation. The third strike against it is because the cold air is delayed, that is likely going to lead our air temperatures to stay above freezing the entire time.”
Could there be snow at some point this winter? There’s always the possibility. High temperatures will dip into the 30s next week before rebounding into the mid-60s by the end of the month.
The trend is likely to continue.
“We’re going to have some opportunities,” Walker said. “We’re going to continue seeing these big swings in the weather. We’ll go from where it’s mild now, in the east, to getting another snowstorm.”
For those who will be around frozen precipitation tonight and into Friday morning, the N.C. Highway Patrol cautions drivers to take normal, practical steps: avoid travel unless necessary, decrease speed and be patient, allow more space between vehicles and take care driving over bridges and overpasses.
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at WolfeReports.
Breakout Box
Anticipated snowfall tonight
Mountains: 2-4 inches
Charlotte: 2-4 inches
Piedmont Triad: 1-3 inches
Research Triangle: 1-3 inches
Northeast N.C.: 1-2 inches
Albemarle Sound: 1-2 inches
Locally: 0 inches
Source: N.C. Emergency Management