Snow Accumulation Forecast Increases to 2-4” in Latest NWS Briefing
The forecasted accumulation of snow during Wednesday night’s storm has increased in the Wednesday morning update from the National Weather Service Newport / Morehead City Office.
As of Wednesday morning, southern Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island is expected to get 2-3 inches of snow, while northern Hatteras Island, (including Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo), is expected to receive 3-4 inches.
The weather event will begin Wednesday afternoon and early evening with rain, which will eventually switch to snow sometime between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Icing is possible overnight Wednesday, with wet surfaces freezing. The snow will stay on the ground, and roads will remain frozen, through mid-morning Thursday, although temperatures are expected to climb to the late 30s / 40s by Thursday afternoon. As such, the snow and icing will not be a repeat of the early January storm, which had lingering impacts for days.
Hazardous travel due to snow covered roads is expected, especially during the evening commute. Heavy snow and wind on Wednesday night may cause whiteout conditions along the islands. Gale force winds and rough seas over the waters are also forecast.
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Dare County and Eastern North Carolina, and Dare County Schools were on a three-hour early release schedule on Wednesday.
For more information, visit www.weather.gov/mhx for weather forecast information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport / Morehead City’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.
