Triangle seeing sleet Thursday is 'unlikely,' Big Weather says

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- According to AccuWeather, snow could affect up to 80 million Americans on Thursday but Big Weather said Triangle residents aren't included.

Western North Carolina may be bracing for wintry weather but the Triangle seeing winter-like weather from that storm is unlikely.

The mountains will see snow and sleet, and while radar indicates some sleet could roll into Raleigh, Big Weather said it's nothing to really worry about.

He said the Oxford and Roxboro areas have a greater chance of seeing sleet because temperatures are close to freezing at 33 degrees.

The National Park Service has closed the Blue Ridge Parkway to traffic because of dangerous road conditions stemming from snow, sleet, and freezing rain.

The Asheville Citizen Times reported the park service said the closure Thursday includes the so-called "Asheville commuter zone" between mileposts 389 and 375.

Sections of the parkway climb higher than Asheville's 2,200 feet. Parkway spokeswoman Leesa Brandon said rains at higher elevations quickly turn to ice-covered roads and tunnels, making driving especially hazardous.

On Wednesday, the park service closed the section of parkway from milepost 375 to 355 because of the possibility of falling rocks in the Tanbark Ridge Tunnel, just north of Asheville.

Watch your full weather forecast