(1/19/22 AM Update) Winter Storm; Thursday - Saturday | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

Good Morning Everyone,

    The latest update from the National Weather Service (NWS) can be found in the email below and attached briefing. NWS staff will also be hosting virtual weather updates at 9:30 am and 4:30pm each day as follows. Register here for all webinars.

    Wednesday Jan 19th at 930 AM

    Wednesday Jan 19th at 430 PM

    Thursday Jan 20th at 930 AM

    Thursday Jan 20th at 430 PM

    Friday Jan 21st at 930 AM

    The current forecast for Beaufort County indicates that precipitation will begin as rain around 3pm Thursday, transitioning to freezing rain / sleet around midnight. Freezing rain / sleet is forecasted for most of Friday before changing to snow around 7pm. All precipitation should be clear of our area by noon Saturday.

    While almost all forecast models agree that Beaufort County will be impacted by winter precipitation, they do not agree on what type we will receive and how much. We hope to include accumulation details in this afternoon's update.

   


    Chris Newkirk
       Deputy Director,     Beaufort County Emergency Services

    1420 Highland Dr
    Washington, NC 27889

       Office: (252) 940-6511  •  Cell: (252) 378-5352


Good Morning,

    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.

    As always if you have concerns please call us at the office.

    Regards,

    Tom

      NOAA - National Weather Service

      Newport/Morehead City, NC Weather Forecast Office
      533 Roberts Rd
      Newport, NC 28570
      Phone: 252-223-5737