A messy Friday as rain changes to snow

The weather remains quiet and dry all the way through Friday night. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect through 4 a.m. Sunday. Our northern communities, especially along the Peninsulas, may see a slower transition to rain than the rest of us, meaning you could see a little more snow on Friday. However on the back side of the system, snow will return in the afternoon and evening with additional accumulations. The next storm will move in tonight. “For Hendersonville areas, it will be snowier”.

The NWS expects a total accumulation during the storm of 8 to 12 inches, depending on elevation.

“As rain starts to fall, it will start to cool the atmosphere”, Wetzel said. “But it will be falling through long periods of time”.

Authorities in North Carolina uurged drivers to stay off the road during the looming snowfall, but it was unclear how the storm would impact travel to an National Football League playoff game set Sunday for Charlotte.

Local officials said preparations are in full swing. We will continue to fine-tune snow totals over the next 36 hours.

Two people were killed late Wednesday in incidents related to the snowfall and wintry conditions that arrived that day, according to McRory’s office. “We are not pre-treating anything due to the temperature and possibility of rain on Thursday”. However, if you’re north of Newberry County into North Carolina, pay close attention.

The N.C. Department of Transportation is also getting work crews and equipment ready for the storm.

Forecasters say snow, sleet and freezing rain is possible in the mountains of Greenville, Oconee and Pickens counties.

A 40-percent chance of snow and sleet is possible before noon Thursday. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. In addition to the wintry mess, winds are expected to gust to 30 miles per hour and that could lead to some power outages and snow drifting. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. However, it would cause travel issues during the time from 4 a.m.to 10 a.m. Parts of D.C. and Maryland could get 2 feet of snow or more.

The sky will gradually clear later this morning and we’ll enjoy some sunshine this afternoon, as high pressure moves overhead.