NWS Winter Weather Advisory (Watauga County)

Current Conditions
Zionville

Temp: 21.3°F

Forecast Last Updated at Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 6:53AM

Sunny Today, Rain Wednesday

After a sunny and relatively comfortable day (less cold and wind) thicker clouds return by this evening. They mark the arrival of another wet-weather maker that kicks into high gear late Wednesday and Wednesday night. However, some light rain will be with us during the day tomorrow. It will start as a dab of freezing rain and perhaps some sleet in the predawn hours Wednesday and changes to rain as the morning progresses. We only expect a few hundredths of an inch of liquid equivalent before temperatures warm, but given the frozen ground that will be enough to cause problems early in the morning. The heaviest rain is tomorrow night and concludes Thursday as snow showers and flurries.

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Tuesday Hi: 33 Lo: 27 Mostly sunny, then increasing cloudiness late; A light wintry mix possible late Tuesday night; SE wind 5-15 mph

Wednesday Hi: 46 Lo: 37 Cloudy with an early wintry mix of light freezing rain & sleet changing to rain; Heaviest rain Wed. night; SW wind 5-15 mph but 10-20 mph & gusty at higher elev's

Thursday Hi: 37 Lo: 20 Mostly cloudy with early rain ending as snow showers or flurries; Windy & turning colder with early high temps; NW wind 10-20 mph & gusty

Friday Hi: 30 Lo: 16 Partly cloudy & cold; AM flurries possible

Saturday Hi: 36 Lo: 23 Mostly sunny & chilly; Becoming partly cloudy Saturday night

Further Out

Sunday - Partly cloudy; Chilly; High in the upper 30s; Low in the mid 20s
Monday - Lots of sunshine; Seasonal; High in the lower 40s; Low near 30 degrees

Forecast Discussion

Arctic high pressure retreats eastwards today loosening its cold grip across the eastern seaboard. Behind it, another vigorous low pressure center moves from the Central Plains today to Quebec Thursday. A robust southwest wind develops overnight and quickly brings warmer air into the southern Appalachians. However, it's not fast enough to preclude some light freezing rain and sleet early Wednesday morning. Although it won't be much the ground is frozen like a rock, and the dominant precip-type is freezing rain so even very light amounts will be problematic. Temperatures get above freezing by mid-morning at the latest in valleys, earlier for the mountaintops as warming occurs from the top down.

Light rain is around Wednesday as the heaviest rain holds until tomorrow night. Much colder air returns Thursday and high temperatures occur in the morning. Rain transitions to snow showers and flurries Thursday morning. Flurries continue into Thursday night and Friday morning. Some minor accumulations are possible for the mountaintops, but it's dusting-level stuff or even less elsewhere.

After a cold Friday temperatures slowly moderate this weekend. There's not much to write home about other than a dry frontal passage Sunday bringing additional cloud cover. Another cold blast returns next Tuesday or Tuesday night and is likely accompanied by some light snow.

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