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This morning’s update from the National Weather Service (NWS) included an increase is expected ice and a decrease is expected snow accumulations for our area. These changes have beenhighlighted below.

Please Note: There continues to be a degree of uncertainty with this storm, with forecasted impacts being very track specific. Shifts in the forecasted track of 30 +/- miles could be the difference between receiving 2 to 3 inches of snow or no measurable amounts at all.

Watches / Warnings

• A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for our area, meaning significant and hazardous winter weather is imminent.

Temperatures / Windchills

• Temperatures are expected to remain near or below freezing through noon on Friday, with daytime windchills between 20 and 25 degrees.
  • Our coldest temperatures are forecasted to occur overnight Thursday with most areas reaching a low of 18 degrees (windchill of 8) from 2am to sunrise Friday morning.
  • Temperatures will climb above freezing between 11am and sunset Friday, before returning to daytime highs in the mid to upper 40 over the weekend.

Temperature (Red) & Windchill (Blue) Graphic: 8am Wednesday – 8am Friday

Snow / Rain / Ice

• Precipitation is expected to move into our area around 9am Wednesday and continue through noon on Thursday as outlined below:
  • Wednesday
    • 9am to Noon: A mix of light snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain with minor accumulations. (Less than a 2/10^th of an inch for all combined.)
    • Noon to 4pm: A mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow, with noticeable accumulations after 2pm.
    • 4pm to Midnight: A mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow, with continued accumulations.
  • Thursday
    • Midnight to 7am: A mix of snow and freezing rain.
    • 7am to Noon: Light snow flurries.
• Most areas of our county are forecasted to receive around an inch of snow and 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch of ice.
  • Our greatest chance of receiving accumulating ice will be between 1pm this afternoon and 1am tomorrow morning.
  • Our greatest chance of receiving accumulating snow will be between 4pm this afternoon and 5am tomorrow morning.

Rain (Green), Snow (Blue),  Ice (Pink) and Sleet (Orange) Graphic – 8am Wednesday – 8am Friday

Primary Hazards

• Down Tree Limbs & Isolated Power Outages
  • Freezing rain and sustained winds near 10 mph with gust near 20 will have the potential to cause tree limbs to break, resulting in damage to vehicles, structures, and other infrastructure.
  • Isolated power outages will be possible during this storm.
• Hazardous Road Conditions
  • Please avoid driving after sunset as our roadways will become hazardous with the accumulation of ice and snow. (This will be especially true for our bridges / overpasses.)

Preparation Reminders

We encourage everyone to take the necessary precautions to safely protect you family, homes, and pets from the forecasted conditions over the coming days. Recommended precautions include:

• Ensure that you have battery operated lighting as well as blankets, warm clothing, etc. in preparation of temporary power outages. (This should include charging phones and other necessary electronic devices.)
• Utilize safe heating practices in your home. (Only use UL approved space heaters. Ensure heaters are at least 3 feet away from furniture and other combustible items. Make sure that you have working smoke alarms. Homes that utilize gas appliances should also have working carbon monoxide alarms as well.)
• Ensure exposed plumbing fixtures are wrapped to prevent freezing and familiarize yourselves with the location of your water shutoffs and / or water meter so that any leaks can quickly be shut off.
• Ensure that outside pets and livestock have adequate shelter to protect them from wind, rain, or frozen precipitation. Also ensure that they continue to have access to water that is not frozen.

Please see the email below and attached weather briefing from the National Weather Service for more information.

Latest NWS Email:

• Confidence is high that wintry weather will occur leading to significant impacts from accumulating snow, sleet and ice later today into Thursday morning.
• Increased ice accumulations over portions of eastern NC, and lowered snow amounts slightly from the previous forecast.
• Uncertainty continues in snow amounts north of US 64, with potential for higher snow totals than currently forecasted.

NWS Morehead City Briefing #5 – Wed, Feb 19 7 AM