Chance of ‘wintry mix’ for Charlotte area grows to 90% for Sunday. Here’s the latest
Chances of a classic winter storm reaching the Charlotte area this weekend continue to grow, with the National Weather Service now calling for a 90% chance of rain, sleet and snow all day Sunday, Jan. 16.
The low that night will be around 26 degrees, guaranteeing ice will await anyone planning to drive early on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Monday, Jan. 17.
Uncertainty remains over timing, intensity and exact track of the storm. This is due largely to the front still being 2,700 miles to the west Wednesday morning.
“These details continue to make precipitation types and amounts highly uncertain,” the weather service said. “Winter weather impacts could be substantial.”
What the weather models show
WBTV meteorologist Leigh Brock reports that two long-range models “have come into a little better agreement that the Carolinas have the possibility of all types of precipitation” over the weekend.
The front is expected to reach the Charlotte region Saturday evening and it will continue dropping snow, sleet, and freezing rain through Sunday night, forecasters say.
Lows will fall to 22 degrees after the storm front passes.
This is the latest forecast scenario for the three-day holiday weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
- “Saturday night: A chance of rain showers before 10 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., then snow showers likely after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
- Sunday: Snow showers, freezing rain, and sleet before 4 p.m., then rain showers and sleet between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., then rain showers likely after 5 p.m. High near 36. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
- Sunday night: Rain showers, snow showers, and sleet likely before 11 p.m., then a chance of snow showers between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Sunny, with a high near 42.”
This story was originally published January 12, 2022 at 6:28 AM.