First Alert: Winter Storm Watch to take effect for possible mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain Saturday night into Sunday

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - A Winter Storm Watch will be in effect from Saturday evening through Monday morning for every county in the WBTV viewing area as there’s a likelihood for a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain in different parts of the region.

The Winter Storm Watch will be in effect for

• Alexander, Iredell, Catawba, Rowan, Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union, York and Chester County until 12 a.m. Monday
• Avery, Caldwell, Burke, McDowell and Rutherford County until 8 a.m. Monday
• Chesterfield County until 1 a.m. Monday

From Saturday evening through Monday morning, the National Weather Service says heavy mixed precipitation is possible, with impacts making travel very difficult to impossible.

In certain areas, precipitation may begin as early as Saturday afternoon across parts of the mountains, and will increase in coverage and intensity late Saturday night. NWS officials say the precipitation will taper off Sunday afternoon and evening.

For the most up-to-the-minute updates, download the WBTV Weather App.

Mostly cloudy skies are on tap for Thursday with seasonal afternoon readings in the low to mid-50s.

• Seasonal temperatures again Thursday
• Dry Friday and most of Saturday
• Snow/sleet/freezing rain Sunday

Evening clouds and even a few spotty showers will give way to clearing conditions overnight with lows in the low 30s.

It will be mostly sunny Friday with fairly mild highs in the middle 50s.

The upcoming holiday weekend forecast is becoming a little more into focus. There is a disturbance, now coming ashore in the Pacific Northwest, that will move our way at the start of the weekend. The exact track of the storm is still in question, but our confidence has grown that there will definitely be major impacts across the WBTV viewing area starting late Saturday night and lingering through much of Sunday. At this point, it’s best to be prepared for the combination of snow/sleet/freezing rain as all scenarios are likely based on the model data available now.

At this point, snow appears to be the primary form of precipitation in the mountains, with a major accumulation likely, with snow and sleet across the Foothills.

In the Piedmont and the immediate Charlotte area, there will probably be a very tight gradient where there’s more snow – perhaps a heavy accumulation on the north/west side – transitioning to sleet and freezing rain.

A significant ice accumulation is possible in the Piedmont, where snow amounts will probably be cut back as warm air drifts in aloft during the height of the storm.

Farther south/east, generally along and south/east of Interstate 85, sleet and freezing rain may even transition over to plain, cold rain Sunday. In time, we’ll fine-tune the forecast and break down more specifically snow and ice accumulations you can expect in your neighborhood.

Hope you have a great day!

Chief Meteorologist Al Conklin

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