Frigid Today, Winter Storm Fri-Sat

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- First Alert-Cold Weather Advisory: A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect for the entire area until 9am today. Wind chill values of 7 to 15 degrees will be possible.

First Alert-Winter Storm Watch: A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for the entire viewing area Friday afternoon through Saturday morning for snow potential of 1-3+ inches, sleet, and ice concerns.

Good morning! Wind chills Thursday morning will range from 7 to 18 degrees. Sunny and cold will be the trend today with highs in the mid/upper 30s. Afternoon wind chills be in the upper 20s and low 30s.

Clouds increase during the day Friday, with wintry precipitation expected to move into the region by Friday evening. The general idea at this time is that precipitation starts off as mainly snow and sleet at the onset late Friday afternoon and evening, then mixes with sleet and freezing rain later Friday night into Saturday morning.

Precipitation ends Saturday morning. Snow/sleet accumulations at this time look to be around 1 to 3 inches with ice accretions of 0.10" to 0.25 inches still possible as well. Ice accretions near and south of RDU will be temperature dependent, and how far south below freezing temperatures get is still somewhat discrepant.

Regardless of whether there is more freezing rain than snow/sleet or the other way around, later parts of the evening commute on Friday can get a bit dicey, and those issues likely linger into Saturday morning before temperatures rise above freezing. Black ice will be a concern Saturday night and Sunday night.

Beyond Saturday, dry conditions prevail through much of the remainder of the forecast period. With high pressure setting up in the Southeast US by the end of the weekend, this bodes for a bit of warm air advection into the Carolinas, and temperatures climb a bit closer to historical average as a result (albeit still below). Plenty of sunshine will make its way into the Triangle as well.

Have a good day!

Kweilyn