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Snow, Wintry Mix Headed To North Carolina

Jay Price

Updated 2:50 p.m., March 12 

Spring is little more than a week away but most of North Carolina is getting another blast of snow and sleet before winter ends.Forecasters are calling for snow from the Triad to parts of the Triangle through Monday evening.  

The National Weather Service this morning expanded its Winter Weather Advisory and is now calling for up to three inches of snow in the Triad and areas north of I-85.  

The Triangle is expected to get anywhere from a dusting of snow to two inches. But meteorologist Nick Petro said the snow could spread as more moisture comes in and temperatures get lower.

“As that comes down and those heavier rates come down, that could help to erase that warm air aloft and erase that warm air closer to the surface and allow us to experience a changeover farther east,” he said.

Many school districts in the Triad are closed today.  Most Triangle schools are releasing students early.

Emergency management workers are also on alert this afternoon. The state Department of Public Safety said local emergency management officials are reporting that they have been able to handle the impacts of the storm so far, but state authorities are standing by. 

Governor Roy Cooper said drivers should still stay off the roads this evening if they can.

"We know that this is not a huge snow like we had in January, but it is enough to cause concern and for you to use caution," said Cooper, adding he does not anticipate declaring a state of emergency. 

In all, the National Weather Service has winter weather advisories, winter storm warnings or freeze warnings in effect for 67 of the state's 100 counties on Monday.

Forecasters say up to 6 inches of snow is possible around Boone in the northern mountains. Two inches of snow is expected around Salisbury and Statesville. Up to 2 inches of snow and sleet is expected across a wide swath stretching from Concord to Roanoke Rapids. An inch of snow is possible from Greenville to Jacksonville.

Forecasters expect patchy black ice early Tuesday morning, but temperatures will rise above freezing by midday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
 

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Will Michaels is WUNC's Weekend Host and Reporter.
Elizabeth “Liz” Baier is WUNC’s Supervising Editor for Race, Class and Communities. She has two decades of experience than span print, audio, and digital reporting and editing.
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