Frozen Stuff Falling From The Sky

[dekeoy]

Well, for what was supposed to be mainly a rain event and what wasn't even supposed to start until late tonight, it looks like the locals mets were wrong again, because stuff is falling from the sky and it's in a solid, frozen form. Not liquid.

[stormwatcher]

Yep - you are right. I am in Hampstead and it has been sleeting here for the past hour. Light but sleet just the same. Wasn't suppose to get nothing but rain after midnight.

[air360]

yea its just about to start here as well.....frozen or liquid remains to be seen

[dekeoy]

Imagine that. Ice starts dropping from the sky and all of a sudden the NWS decides they better issue a statement. This is looking more and more like the Christmas Storm of 1989.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
854 PM EST SAT DEC 25 2004

THE MENTIONED ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SNOW AND/OR ICE IS FORECAST TO
DEVELOP IN THE AFFECTED AREAS, BUT ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE
LIGHT. ANY SNOW OR ICE WOULD MAKE DRIVING AND WALKING DIFFICULT BUT
NOT IMPOSSIBLE ON UNTREATED ROADWAYS AND SIDEWALKS. WHEN TEMPERATURES
ARE BELOW FREEZING, MOTORISTS NEED TO BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL ON
BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES WHERE SLIPPERY SPOTS CAN EASILY DEVELOP.

NCZ100-101-SCZ046-261800-
BRUNSWICK NC-GEORGETOWN SC-NEW HANOVER NC-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GEORGETOWN...LELAND...MURRELLS INLET...
SHALLOTTE...SOUTHPORT AND WILMINGTON
855 PM EST SAT DEC 25 2004

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM SUNDAY TO 1 PM EST
SUNDAY...

RAIN MIXED WITH FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET WILL DEVELOP OVERNIGHT FOR
PORTIONS OF COASTAL NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. ALTHOUGH THE WORST
WINTER WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT INLAND AREAS...FREEZING RAIN
COULD PRODUCE A GLAZE FROM ONE TO TWO TENTHS OF AN INCH THICK ON
EXPOSED SURFACES SUNDAY MORNING.

THE BEST CHANCE OF FREEZING RAIN WILL OCCUR ACROSS INLAND SECTIONS OF
GEORGETOWN AND HORRY COUNTIES...MAINLY ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM
SAMPIT IN GEORGETOWN COUNTY THROUGH LORIS IN HORRY COUNTY. IN PENDER
COUNTY...LOCATIONS WEST OF INTERSTATE 40 AND BURGAW ARE MOST AT RISK
FOR WINTER WEATHER.

WINTER WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVERNIGHT AS MOISTURE SPREADS
NORTH FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO. EVEN THOUGH IT WILL BE VERY COLD AT
GROUND LEVEL...WARM AIR SEVERAL THOUSAND FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WILL
MELT FALLING SNOW AND CREATE AREAS OF FREEZING RAIN. BRIDGES AND
OVERPASSES MAY BECOME VERY SLICK LATE TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING.

THIS IS A RAPIDLY DEVELOPING AND CHANGING WINTER WEATHER SITUATION.
PLEASE MONITOR THE LATEST WEATHER FORECASTS...ADVISORIES AND WARNINGS
FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

[air360]

ah...possibly 1989...but...see....they are STILL calling for only rain up here near MHX radar site...and we had loads of snow in 89...so...maybe 89 for you...but still just annoying "so close to snow" weather up here for me....hopefully the conditions will...well....worsen...very quickly:)

[dekeoy]

we too had loads of snow in 1989, however, when it first started they were calling for rain, then a little sleet/ice, then 1-2 inches of snow. Then when there were 3 inches on the ground they revised it to 2-4inches, and that continued on and on until there was 18 inches on the ground. Now, I don't think that will happen this time, but it sure looks like the same type scenerio.

[stormwatcher]

Hampstead is getting a mix, mostly rain right now but the temp is continuing to drop . 34 deg currently at my house. Mets do seem to be adjusting their thought pattern. Should read what Charleston NWS Mets are saying. Storm appears to be getting stronger than expected and may be pulling colder air down from the north.

000
FXUS62 KCHS 260220
AFDCHS

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
920 PM EST SAT DEC 25 2004

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/...TEMPS ACROSS COASTAL SC AND GA GETTING TOO
CLOSE FOR COMFORT WHEN LOOKING AT THE ICE POSSIBILITIES. RAIN HAS
BROUGHT SURFACE TEMPS DOWN A BIT AND HAS SATURATED THE LOWEST
LEVELS. WHILE MOST OF THE AREA IS HOVERING IN THE MID 30S...WITH
LOW FORECAST TO STRENGTHEN AND POSSIBLY PULL DOWN COOLER AIR TO THE
N AND NW...FEEL THAT IT IS BEST TO EXPAND THE WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY FOR THE REST OF THE SC ZONES...AND THE REMAINDER OF THE
INLAND GA ZONES. PRIMARY THREAT FOR ICE CONTINUES TO BE MAINLY WEST
OF HIGHWAY 17 IN SC AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 95 DOWN IN GA. WILL BE
ISSUING THE EXPANDED WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY SHORTLY. MAY TWEAK
WINDS AND TEMPS A BIT ESPECIALLY DOWN IN GA...BUT FOR THE MOST PART
THEY LOOK FINE. AM NOT LOOKING FOR WIDESPREAD ICE DOWN IN GA...BUT
FOR THOSE AREAS THAT ARE TYPICAL LOW AND COLD SPOTS...ICE COULD
DEFINITELY FORM OVERNIGHT.

[air360]

oh i see....i for one was not into weather forecasting back in 89 so i do not remember anything other than it snowed a bunch!! and thats all the REALLY matters isnt it:) well...keep us updated on whats happening down there and let us know if you get anything thats not forecasted ( ie: heavey dumps of snow start) ......all the fun is really just about to start up here at MHX...according to radar the precip is just a few miles away...**looks out window**

[air360]

SLEET....9:25....it starts...woohoo....and its suppose to be all rain;)

[dekeoy]

Currently 33 degrees with the forecast low being 34. Hmmmmmm. Looking forward to the 11 o clock news.

[air360]

im currently showing 35.... here is our forecast for tonight "lows in the middle 30s...except lows in the lower 40s near the beaches"...
now...looking at a map in really close to the beach...but i rarely run as warm as "on the beaches" temp is...so...i am at my low for tonight...and its just starting....shouldn bring it down more....wohoo