North Carolina Winter storm update

[WXBUFFJIM]

A winter storm continues for the Carolinas and into northern Georgia. This presents two problems,
A. heavy wintry precipitation and B. strong winds and coastal flooding along the North Carolina coast. The following below are snow totals received so far in the Carolinas and Georgia.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
1245 PM EST THU FEB 26 2004

PRECIPITATION TYPES AND ACCUMULATIONS AS OF 1230 AM...


COUNTY TIME COMMENTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------

ANSON 1230 PM 4 TO 5 INCHES...MODERATE SNOW

CHATHAM 1230 PM 1 INCH

CUMBERLAND 1230 PM 6 TO 7 INCHES...VERY HEAVY SNOW

DAVIDSON 1230 PM 1 TO 2 INCHES...MAINLY SOUTH

HARNETT 1230 PM 2 TO 3 INCHES....HEAVY SNOW

HOKE 1230 PM 6 TO 7 INCHES SOUTH...4 TO 5 INCHES NORTH.

JOHNSTON 1230 PM 3 TO 4 INCHES SOUTH...1 TO 2 INCHES NORTH

LEE 1230 PM 2-3 INCHES

MONTGOMERY 100 PM 2-3 INCHES (4 INCHES AT LAKE TILLERY)

MOORE 1230 PM 4 INCHES SOUTH...2 TO 3 INCHES NORTH

RANDOLPH 100 PM 1 TO 2 INCHES SOUTH (THUNDERSNOW)

RICHMOND 1230 PM 5 TO 6 INCHES

SAMPSON 1230 PM 3 TO 4 INCHES EAST...4 TO 5 INCHES WEST

SCOTLAND 1230 PM 5 TO 6 INCHES

STANLY 100 PM 1 1/2 TO 2 INCHES (NEAR AIRPORT)

WAKE 1230 PM 1 INCH SOUTH...TRACE NORTH

WAYNE 100 PM 3 TO 5 INCHES (5 INCHES MER-MAC)

WILSON 1230 PM TRACE

VIEW GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF THIS DATA ON THE WEB AT
http://WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/RAH

$$

JO

NORTH CAROLINA
--------------

PIEDMONT
********

DAVIE...AT 1154 AM EST 1/2 INCH REPORTED.

LINCOLN...4 INCHES 3 MILES NORTH OF LINCOLNTON. 2 INCHES NEAR
DENVER.

MECKLENBURG...SOUTH CHARLOTTE HAD 2 INCHES OF SNOW AT 1118 EST...BY
1215 PM 6 INCHES REPORTED REA ROAD IN SOUTH CHARLOTTE.

UNION...AT 11 AM MONROE ARE REPORTED 4 INCHES...BY NOON 6 INCHES.
MATTHEWS HAD 3 INCHES AT 1125 AM EST. 5 INCHES REPORTED AT
WEDDINGTON.

SOUTH CAROLINA
--------------

CHESTER...4 INCHES 3 MILES SOUTH OF CHESTER OFF HIGHWAY 321.

CHEROKEE...AT 1142 AM EST GAFFNEY REPORTED 4 INCHES.

YORK...3 INCHES IN THE LAKE WYLIE AREA. ROCK HILL REPORTED 4 INCHES
AT 1118 AM EST. FORT MILL HAD 4 INCHES AT THE SAME TIME.

LANCASTER...2 1/2 INCHES SNOWFALL WITH SLEET NOW FALLING.


PRELIMINARY SNOW AMOUNTS REPORTED BY 8:00 A.M. FOLLOW:

COUNTY SNOW DEPTH (INCHES)
GILMER 2-3
FANNIN 2
UNION 1.5
LUMPKIN 2
PICKENS 1
DAWSON 1
TOWNS 4
WHITE 2-3
CHEROKEE 1-2
MURRAY 2
GORDON 1
FORSYTH 1-2
HALL 2-3
CATOOSA 1
DADE 2-3
WALKER LESS THAN 1 (2 IN HIGHER ELEVATIONS)
CHATTOOGA 1-1.5
WHITFIELD 2-3
FLOYD LESS THAN 1
BARTOW 4-5
BANKS 2-3
MADISON 2
JACKSON 1
POLK LESS THAN 1
PAULDING 1
COBB 1-2
FULTON LESS THAN 1
GWINNETT 2
CLARKE 1-2
BARROW 2-4
HARALSON LESS THAN 1
CARROL 2-3
DOUGLAS 1-2
DEKALB 1
PUTNAM LESS THAN 1
WALTON 1-2
OCONEE 1-1.5
OGLETHORPE 1-1.5
WILKES 1
ROCKDALE 1
NEWTON 1-2
MORGAN 2
GREENE LESS THAN 1
TALIAFERRO 1
HEARD LESS THAN 1
COWETA LESS THAN 1
FAYETTE LESS THAN 1
CLAYTON LESS THAN 1
HENRY LESS THAN 1
SPAULDING LESS THAN 1
JASPER LESS THAN 1
BUTTS LESS THAN 1

A MORE COMPLETE SNOWFALL REPORT WILL BE ISSUED LATER TODAY.

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH
GEORGIA UNTIL 7 P.M. TODAY.

END OF REPORT.


Snow even accumulated as far south as Atlanta earlier today. The heaviest snow is now situated over central and east central North Carolina where heavy snow is being reported along the I 95 corridor in North Carolina today. As dynamic as this storm system is, also don't be surprised to hear thunder and see some lightning as the heavy snow continues to fall. Some areas in central North Carolina have already seen up to 6 inches or more of snow including in Charlotte and more is falling. Evaporational cooling and dynamic forcing combined with the slow movement of this storm system will lead to one foot or more of snow locally from Charlotte, NC to Raleigh, NC. Most places west of I 95 in North Carolina will see 6-12" of snow while over 12 inches could accumulate locally within heavier mesoscale bands. However snow is falling east of I 95 as well and the potential is there for accumulating snow even just slightly inland from the coast. best bet is to stay off the roads today across the Tarheel State as the snow continues to pile up inland. The northern edge of this precipitation could clip the tidewater of Virginia and southern Virginia later today into tonight with snow inland near Danville, VA and a mix of rain and snow along the coast in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Areas north and west of the tidewater may see nothing at all while areas south of there see heavy precipitation. That's what makes the forecast quite challenging for southern Virginia as they are expected to be on the northern edge of the precipitation. Having said all of this, is snow the only problem we're facing?? Absolutely not because there is another concern today along the coast for coastal flooding and storm force winds. The following below is marine forecasts for the North Carolina and Virginia coast.


From south of Cape Hatteras to Cape Lookout, NC and out 20 NM: Storm warning today through Friday. Heavy surf advisory through Friday.

This afternoon: NE winds 30-35 knots, Seas 9-13 feet. Rain likely and a chance of snow.
Tonight: NE winds 40-50 knots, Seas 12-15 feet building to 19-25 feet after midnight. Highest seas near Cape Hatteras. Occasional rain.
Friday: NE winds 40-50 knots. Seas 19-25 feet...Highest near Cape Hatteras. Occasional rain and snow.
Friday night: NE winds 30-35 knots. Seas subsiding to 15-18 feet..Highest near Cape Hatteras. Rain likely with a chance of snow.


For the coastal waters from south of Currituck Beach Light to Oregon Inlet and out 20 NM: Gale warning and a coastal flood warning.

This aftrnoon: NE winds 25-30 knots. Seas 8-10 feet building to 10-12 feet. Chance of rain mixed with snow.
Then rain and snow likely.
Tonight: NE winds 30-35 knots. Seas 12-14 feet. Occasional rain.
Friday: NE winds 35-40 knots. Seas 15-18 feet. Occasional rain.
Friday night: NE winds 30-35 knots. Seas 15-18 feet. Rain likely with a chance of snow.
Saturday: North winds 20-25 knots. Seas 13-16 feet subsiding to 9-12 feet in the afternoon.


For Pamilco Sound: A gale warning ans a coastal flood warning are in effect.

This afternoon: NE winds 25-30 knots. Waves 3-4 feet. Rain likely with a chance of snow.
Tonight and Friday: NE winds 30-35 knots. Waves 4-5 feet. Occasional rain.
Friday night: North winds 25-30 knots. Waves 3-4 feet. Chance of rain and snow in the evening.
Saturday: North winds 15-20 knots. Waves 2-3 feet subsiding to 1-2 feet.

Areas well offshore from North Carolina in the gulf stream could see hurricane force winds up to 70 knots by Friday night. This is a slow moving storm and a dangerous storm system for both folks travelling in the tarheel state and also over the water. Marine interests may want to reconsider doing any deep sea fishing or navigating until the upcoming weekend when conditions will improve.

More updates on this storm throughout the evening.

Jim