Friday weather: Storm watch issued for the weekend

The primary zone of concern is lower Southern Maryland, the Northern Neck, and the Eastern Shore.

People living in the South may want to pull out their hats, scarves, gloves and boots after winter storm watches were issued in areas as far south as North Carolina to Alabama Thursday, according to weather reports. (See comments section for their balloon findings).

Now that it’s January, colder temperatures are taking hold of a large portion of the Lower 48 states, setting the stage for the wintry weather. The agency reported that it had measured 0.8 inches of snowfall at its offices in North Little Rock through 745 a.m. Friday. It is only going to last a couple days.

What’sUpNewp will continue to keep you updated with any further information.

The NAM model is more aggressive bringing much more snow to the area. On average the Charlotte area received less than four inches of snow when looking back at 30 years of weather records.

“Snow will be moderate to possibly briefly heavy at times late this morning and early this afternoon with 1-inch per hour snowfall rates”, the weather service said in its alert. Those areas may get 3 to 5 inches of snow.

Light snow during morning, turning steadier and heavier by afternoon and evening. This allows for more dry air to flood into the region, keeping D.C. and Baltimore safe from any snowfall, and causing totals to be on the lower end of the given ranges in warned counties to the east.

Hy-Line Cruises, the ferry company serving Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard, canceled trips Saturday and two Sunday morning trips, that were scheduled to leave at 6:15 and 7:40, according to the company’s Twitter.

Light Snow, Freezing Rain, Wind Chills 0° to 10°, Hazardous Driving Conditions until 3 pm Saturday.

Snow also is also possible in Atlanta, where snow and ice have jammed freeways in past storms.

Stuck semitrailers blocked many freeways, children on school buses were stranded, and several drivers were forced to sleep in their cars overnight or seek shelter at gas stations, fast-food restaurants or businesses that stayed open 24 hours.

For now, there is no need to change any plans for later this week given the lingering uncertainty.

The result will be a very tight gradient of snow south and east of Fredericksburg.

Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 1 AM to 11 AM EST Friday…

Henry, Driggs and Craters of the Moon could receive up to 2 feet of snow during that time frame.