Alert archive / North Carolina / Winter Storm Watches in 2012

Winter Storm Watch 2, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

February 18, 2012Haywood County, Madison County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this winter storm watch at Feb 18, 2012, 10:50 PM EST for Haywood County, Madison County, North Carolina. It took effect at Feb 19, 2012, 7:00 AM EST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 18, 2012, 10:50 PM EST (03:50 UTC)
In effect from
Feb 19, 2012, 7:00 AM EST
Expired
Feb 19, 2012, 4:40 AM EST
In force
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

Counties Haywood County, NC, Madison County, NC

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 72 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:50 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 00:00Z, 3.8 hours before the alert went out and 268 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 00:00Z on 2012-02-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 00:00Z on 2012-02-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 56 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1821 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
57 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
56 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
57 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

893 
WWUS42 KGSP 190350
WSWGSP

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1050 PM EST SAT FEB 18 2012

...HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED OVER PORTIONS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA
MOUNTAINS SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...

.LOW PRESSURE ALONG THE GULF COAST WILL APPROACH THE AREA
TONIGHT...SPREADING MOISTURE AND PRECIPITATION OVER THE REGION.
COLDER AIR WILL FILTER IN FROM THE NORTH SUNDAY AS THE LOW MOVES
BY TO OUR SOUTH. PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE BRIEFLY TO A MIX OF
FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET AS TEMPERATURES DROP TO AROUND FREEZING
ACROSS THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON...BEFORE
BECOMING ALL SNOW LATER IN THE AFTERNOON. MEANWHILE...RAIN IS
EXPECTED TO CHANGE TO SNOW BY EARLY AFTERNOON ACROSS THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS OF HAYWOOD AND MADISON COUNTIES. ADDITIONAL SNOW
SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE LATE SUNDAY NIGHT ALONG THE TENNESSEE BORDER
AS WINDS SHIFT TO NORTHWEST WITH THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING
OFFSHORE. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF AND END BEFORE SUNRISE MONDAY.

UNCERTAINTY REMAINS AS TO HOW QUICKLY THE COLD AIR WILL MOVE INTO
THE REGION SUNDAY. HOWEVER...OTHER AREAS OF THE MOUNTAINS...
ESPECIALLY NEAR THE EASTERN ESCARPMENT OF THE BLUE RIDGE...WILL
LIKELY SEE LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF WINTRY WEATHER AS WELL.
ADVISORIES FOR SOME OF THESE AREAS MAY BE ISSUED LATER TONIGHT.

NCZ033-049-050-501-503-505-191200-
/O.CON.KGSP.WS.W.0003.120219T1200Z-120220T0500Z/
AVERY-YANCEY-MITCHELL-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-
MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWLAND...SPRUCE PINE
1050 PM EST SAT FEB 18 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM SUNDAY TO
MIDNIGHT EST SUNDAY NIGHT...

* LOCATIONS...NORTHERN MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA.

* HAZARDS...HEAVY SNOWFALL. LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF SLEET OR
  FREEZING RAIN ARE POSSIBLE BEFORE THE SNOW BEGINS. 

* TIMING...SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING.

* ACCUMULATIONS...3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW. HIGHER TOTALS WILL BE
  POSSIBLE UNDERNEATH BANDS OF HEAVIER SNOWFALL. 

* IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. HEAVY WET SNOW COULD
  CAUSE ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES IN AREAS WITH THE HIGHEST SNOWFALL
  TOTALS. 

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER TO MID 30S.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...BE SURE TO TAKE ALONG YOUR CELL
PHONE. WEAR A WARM COAT...GLOVES...AND BOOTS. KEEP A BLANKET...
FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

NCZ048-052-191200-
/O.NEW.KGSP.WS.A.0002.120219T1200Z-120220T0500Z/
MADISON-HAYWOOD-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...WAYNESVILLE
1050 PM EST SAT FEB 18 2012

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM EST SUNDAY THROUGH
SUNDAY EVENING ABOVE 3500 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A WINTER STORM WATCH ABOVE 3500 FEET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM
7 AM EST SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. 

* LOCATIONS...THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF MADISON AND HAYWOOD
  COUNTIES. 

* HAZARDS...HEAVY SNOWFALL. 

* TIMING...LATE SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING.

* ACCUMULATIONS...3 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW POSSIBLE. HIGHER TOTALS
  COULD OCCUR UNDERNEATH BANDS OF HEAVIER SNOWFALL.

* IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS ON HIGH ELEVATION ROADS. 

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER TO MID 30S.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE
LATEST FORECASTS.

&&

$$
LANE
1 follow-up statement
550 
WWUS42 KGSP 190940
WSWGSP

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
440 AM EST SUN FEB 19 2012

...THREAT OF HEAVY SNOW REMAINS ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA
MOUNTAINS THROUGH THIS EVENING...

.LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK FROM THE GULF COAST STATES TODAY TO THE
OFFSHORE ATLANTIC WATERS TONIGHT...SPREADING MOISTURE BACK INTO
THE REGION. AS COLDER AIR CONTINUES TO FILTER IN FROM THE NORTH...
AREAS OF RAIN WILL CHANGE BRIEFLY TO A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET...
BEFORE BECOMING ALL SNOW LATER TODAY BEFORE TAPERING OFF BEFORE
SUNRISE MONDAY.

NCZ035-502-191700-
/O.EXB.KGSP.WS.W.0003.120219T1700Z-120220T1100Z/
ALEXANDER-GREATER CALDWELL-
440 AM EST SUN FEB 19 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 AM EST
MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A WINTER STORM WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6
AM EST MONDAY.

* LOCATIONS...ALEXANDER AND CALDWELL COUNTIES.

* HAZARDS...ACCUMULATING SNOW.

* TIMING...LATE TODAY AND INTO TONIGHT.

* ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW.

* IMPACTS...SNOW WILL MAKE ROADS SLICK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. IF YOU MUST
TRAVEL...BE SURE TO TAKE ALONG YOUR CELL PHONE. WEAR A WARM
COAT...GLOVES...AND BOOTS. KEEP A BLANKET...FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND
WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

NCZ048-052-191700-
/O.UPG.KGSP.WS.A.0002.120219T1200Z-120220T0500Z/
/O.NEW.KGSP.WW.Y.0006.120219T1700Z-120220T0500Z/
/O.EXA.KGSP.WS.W.0003.120219T1200Z-120220T0500Z/
MADISON-HAYWOOD-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...WAYNESVILLE
440 AM EST SUN FEB 19 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT
ABOVE 3500 FEET...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT
EST TONIGHT BELOW 3500 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A WINTER STORM WARNING ABOVE 3500 FEET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL
MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY BELOW 3500 FEET
HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT EST
TONIGHT.

* LOCATIONS...MADISON AND HAYWOOD COUNTIES.

* HAZARDS...SNOW

* TIMING...TODAY INTO TONIGHT

* ACCUMULATIONS...2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED ACROSS HIGHER
  ELEVATIONS...WITH AN INCH OR TWO POSSIBLE IN THE VALLEYS.

* IMPACTS...ROADS MAY BECOME SLICK WITH SNOW LATER TODAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. IF YOU MUST
TRAVEL...BE SURE TO TAKE ALONG YOUR CELL PHONE. WEAR A WARM
COAT...GLOVES...AND BOOTS. KEEP A BLANKET...FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND
WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

NCZ053-191700-
/O.NEW.KGSP.WW.Y.0006.120219T1700Z-120220T0500Z/
/O.EXA.KGSP.WS.W.0003.120219T1200Z-120220T0500Z/
BUNCOMBE-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...ASHEVILLE
440 AM EST SUN FEB 19 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT
ABOVE 3500 FEET...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT
EST TONIGHT BELOW 3500 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A WINTER STORM WARNING ABOVE 3500 FEET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL
MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY BELOW 3500 FEET
HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT EST
TONIGHT.

* LOCATIONS...BUNCOMBE COUNTY.

* HAZARDS...SNOW.

* TIMING...LATER TODAY INTO TONIGHT.

* ACCUMULATIONS...2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED ACROSS HIGHER
  ELEVATIONS...WITH AN INCH OR TWO POSSIBLE IN THE VALLEYS.

* IMPACTS...ROADS MAY BECOME SLICK LATER TODAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. IF YOU MUST
TRAVEL...BE SURE TO TAKE ALONG YOUR CELL PHONE. WEAR A WARM
COAT...GLOVES...AND BOOTS. KEEP A BLANKET...FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND
WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

NCZ051-059-191700-
/O.EXA.KGSP.WS.W.0003.120219T1200Z-120220T0500Z/
SWAIN-NORTHERN JACKSON-
440 AM EST SUN FEB 19 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT
ABOVE 3500 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A WINTER STORM WARNING ABOVE 3500 FEET FOR...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT.

* LOCATIONS...HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF SWAIN AND JACKSON COUNTIES.

* HAZARDS...SNOW 

* TIMING...LATER TODAY INTO THIS EVENING.

* ACCUMULATIONS...2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW.

* IMPACTS...ROADS MAY BECOME SLICK LATER TODAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST
THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...BE SURE TO
TAKE ALONG YOUR CELL PHONE. WEAR A WARM COAT...GLOVES...AND BOOTS.
KEEP A BLANKET... FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN
CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

NCZ033-049-050-501-503-505-191700-
/O.EXT.KGSP.WS.W.0003.120219T1200Z-120220T1100Z/
AVERY-YANCEY-MITCHELL-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-
MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWLAND...SPRUCE PINE
440 AM EST SUN FEB 19 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST MONDAY...

* LOCATIONS...NORTHERN MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA.

* HAZARDS...HEAVY SNOWFALL. LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF SLEET OR 
  FREEZING RAIN ARE POSSIBLE BEFORE THE SNOW BEGINS. 

* TIMING...INTO TONIGHT.

* ACCUMULATIONS...3 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS.

* IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. HEAVY WET SNOW COULD 
  CAUSE ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES IN AREAS WITH THE HIGHEST 
  SNOWFALL TOTALS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...BE SURE TO TAKE ALONG YOUR CELL
PHONE. WEAR A WARM COAT...GLOVES...AND BOOTS. KEEP A BLANKET...
FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

NCZ036-037-056-057-504-506-191700-
/O.NEW.KGSP.WW.Y.0006.120219T1700Z-120220T1100Z/
IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-GREATER BURKE-EASTERN MCDOWELL-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...STATESVILLE...MOCKSVILLE...HICKORY...
SALISBURY
440 AM EST SUN FEB 19 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 AM EST
MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO
6 AM EST MONDAY.

* LOCATIONS...THE INTERSTATE 40 CORRIDOR IN THE NORTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT.

* HAZARDS...SNOW.

* TIMING...LATE TODAY INTO TONIGHT

* ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 2 INCHES OF SNOW.

* IMPACTS...ROADS MAY BECOME SLICK BY THIS EVENING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

NCZ064-507-509-191700-
/O.NEW.KGSP.WW.Y.0006.120219T1700Z-120220T0500Z/
TRANSYLVANIA-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-POLK MOUNTAINS-
440 AM EST SUN FEB 19 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT
EST TONIGHT ABOVE 3500 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY ABOVE 3500 FEET FOR...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT.

* LOCATIONS...HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN BLUE RIDGE.

* HAZARDS...SNOWFALL. A LIGHT ACCUMULATION OF SLEET OR FREEZING
  RAIN IS POSSIBLE BEFORE THE SNOW BEGINS.

* TIMING...LATE TODAY INTO THIS EVENING.

* ACCUMULATIONS...UP TO AN INCH OR TWO OF SNOW.

* IMPACTS...SLICK SPOTS MAY DEVELOP ON ROADS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

&&

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this winter storm watch went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this winter storm watch went out at Feb 18, 10:32 PM EST, 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 18, 10:32 PM EST, 18 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1032 PM EST SAT FEB 18 2012

.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE FROM THE NORTHERN GULF COAST TONIGHT TO THE
CAROLINA COAST ON SUNDAY.  THIS WILL BRING WET WEATHER UNTIL THE
SYSTEM MOVES OUT OVER THE ATLANTIC.  HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO
THE REGION MONDAY AND REMAIN THROUGH TUESDAY. A SERIES OF COLD
FRONTS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION DURING THE LAST HALF OF THE WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/...
AS OF 955 PM...LIGHT RAIN CONTINUES TO MAKE SLOW PROGRESS EAST/
NORTHEAST...AND CURRENTLY EXTENDS FROM THE NORTHEAST GEORGIA
MOUNTAINS TO THE EASTERN SC PIEDMONT. JUDGING FROM UPSTREAM RADAR
TRENDS...THE NAM SEEMS TO BE VERIFYING VERY WELL IN TERMS OF KEEPING
OUR NORTHERN ZONE DRY THROUGH MOST OF THE NIGHT. POPS WERE LOWERED
TO LIKELY IN THESE AREAS...BUT EVEN THIS MAY BE TOO HIGH. THE
CURRENT PRECIP...FORCED BY LOW-TO-MID LEVEL FRONTOGENESIS IS
EXPECTED TO SHIFT EAST OF THE AREA...SOMETIME BETWEEN 09Z AND 12Z.
THERE WILL BE A BIT OF A LULL BEFORE THE MORE SIGNIFICANT
DEFORMATION ZONE PRECIP ARRIVES DURING MID-TO-LATE MORNING.

OTHERWISE...THE COLD AIR ASSOCIATED WITH CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE
ACROSS THE MIDWEST IS BEGINNING TO SPILL INTO NORTHERN VIRGINIA AT
THIS TIME. BACKDOOR FRONT SHOULD ARRIVE TO THE NORTHERN ZONES BY
12Z...BRINGING MUCH COOLER AIR TO THE REGION.

SUNDAY...THERE ISNT A WHOLE LOT TO ADD FOR SUNDAY AT THIS TIME. THE
MODELS GENERALLY AGREE THAT THE HIGHEST DEFORMATION ZONE QPF WILL
OCCUR ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CWFA. BY EARLY
AFTERNOON...MOST AREAS OF THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS SHOULD BE NEAR
FREEZING. MODEL SOUNDINGS DEPICT A BIT OF A WARM NOSE LINGERING IN
WANING LOW/MID LEVEL WARM ADVECTION. THEREFORE...THERE PROBABLY WILL
BE A TRANSITORY PERIOD OF FZRA/SLEET BEFORE THE TRANSITION TO SNOW.
THIS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE FURTHER SOUTH ALONG THE EASTERN
ESCARPMENT AS TEMPS FALL THEN LOCK IN AROUND FREEZING IN THE STRONG
EASTERLY FLOW. SNOW SHOULD BE THE PREDOMINANT PRECIP TYPE IN THE
CURRENT WARNING AREA...AND IT APPEARS THAT 4-6 INCHES ARE EASILY
ATTAINABLE IN THIS AREA. FURTHER SOUTH...LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF A
MIXED BAG ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE EASTERN ESCARPMENT. MEANWHILE...
THE INTERIOR VALLEYS (INCLUDING ASHEVILLE/HENDERSONVILLE/
WAYNESVILLE) WILL LIKELY SEE AROUND AN INCH OR LESS AS PRECIP
CHANGES TO SNOW BEFORE ENDING.

ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN WILL BE THE I-40 CORRIDOR IN THE
PIEDMONT...AS SUFFICIENT COLD AIR SHOULD BE IN PLACE TO ALLOW FOR
ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL BY THE TIME PRECIP ENDS LATE TOMORROW
AFTERNOON/EVENING. PER COORDINATION WITH NEIGHBORING OFFICES...AN
ADVISORY WILL NOT BE ISSUED FOR THESE AREAS ATTM...BUT MEASURABLE
SNOWFALL DOES APPEAR LIKELY BEFORE PRECIP ENDS.

THE FINAL AREA TO WATCH WILL BE THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE CENTRAL
NC MTNS...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE TENN BORDER. THE CONCERN HERE IS THAT
AS THE HEAVIER DEFORMATION ZONE PRECIP MOVES OVER THIS AREA...SNOW
LEVELS WILL QUICKLY PLUMMET AND A GOOD CHUNK OF TOMORROWS PRECIP
COULD END UP FALLING AS SNOW ABOVE 3000 FEET OR SO. THIS IS ENOUGH
OF A CONCERN THAT A WINTER STORM WATCH WILL BE ISSUED FOR THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS OF HAYWOOD AND MADISON COUNTIES.

.PREVIOUS SUNDAY DISCUSSION...
SUNDAY...THE LOW PRESSURE CENTER IS PROGGED TO TRACK QUICKLY FROM
NRN GA TO THE SE NC COASTAL WATERS BY 00Z MONDAY AND DEEPEN TO
AROUND 1000 MB. IN THE UPPER LEVELS THE STRONGEST Q CONVERGENCE WILL
CROSS THE CWFA SUNDAY MORNING. THEN A DEFORMATION ZONE WILL BEGIN TO
PIVOT AND SHIFT EAST FROM ERN KY/TN TO THE NC MTNS BY EVENING. BOTH
THE NAM AND GFS FCST SNDGS SHOW PROFILES IN THE NRN MTNS CHANGING
FROM RA TO SN FROM LATE MORNING THRU THE AFTN HOURS. THE NAM TRIES
TO HOLD ONTO A WARM NOSE...BUT THIS SCENARIO SEEMS UNLIKELY WITHIN A
DEFORMATION ZONE. USING A TOP-DOWN APPROACH FAVORING THE GFS
PROFILES...RAIN CHANGES TO SNOW ACRS THE NRN NC MTNS AND ADJACENT
BLUE RIDGE STARTING AROUND 15Z...WITH SNOW LEVELS DROPPING THRU THE
DAY. MEANWHILE...A DRY SLOT WILL PUNCH INTO THE SRN HALF OF THE
CWFA...SO POPS SHUD TAPER OFF. (ALTHOUGH DRIZZLE MAY LINGER THRU THE
DAY.) AS FOR ACCUM...TAKING A BLEND OF GUIDANCE AND USING HPC/S
SLR...THE CURRENT WATCH ZONES DO REACH 12-HR WARNING CRITERIA.
OUTSIDE OF THOSE AREAS...IT IS HIGHLY ELEVATION-DEPENDENT...WITH THE
SW NC MTNS GETTING ONLY ADVISORY-LEVEL SNOW ABOVE ABOUT 5000 FT.
ALSO...THE I-40 CORRIDOR MAY GET SOME SNOW ACCUM AS THE LOW EXITS
LATE SUN AFTN/EVE. CONFIDENCE SEEMS HIGH ENUF TO UPGRADE THE WATCH
TO A WINTER STORM WARNING...BUT NO HIGH ENUF TO ISSUE ANYTHING
OUTSIDE THAT AREA. WILL MENTION POTENTIAL IMPACTS FOR THE REST OF
THE MTNS IN THE HWO.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM SATURDAY...A GFS/ECMWF BLEND WAS USED FOR THIS FCST
PERIOD WITH THE NAM CONSIDERED AN OUTLIER. AS UPPER TROF PULLS OFF
TO THE NE AND SFC LOW TRACKS OFF THE CAROLINA COAST PRECIP CHC DROPS
OFF SUN NIGHT AND LATEST GFS BUFKIT SOUNDINGS ELIMINATES WARM NOSE
ALOFT...WHICH KEEPS TEMP PROFILES COLD ENOUGH FOR RAIN/SNOW PIEDMONT
AND SNOW MTNS BEFORE IT ENDS AFTER MIDNIGHT. MON MRNG LOWS WILL BE
IN THE U20S-L30S ACROSS THE PIEDMONT WITH 20S MTNS. UPPER RIDGE AND
SFC HIGH PRES BUILD OVER THE REGION MON WITH LOWS ABOUT 5 DEG BELOW
AVG. RIDGE MOVES E MON NIGHT-TUE AND AS SFC HI MOVES OFFSHORE...S
RETURN FLOW BEGINS TO PICK UP. TEMPS WARM TO NEAR AVG AND MOISTURE
STARTS TO ADVANCE NE TOWARD THE AREA AS THE NEXT SHORTWAVE
APPROACHES FROM THE W. FOR NOW INCREASED CLOUDS OVER THE AREA BUT
HELD POPS BELOW SLIGHT CHC THRESHOLD THRU THE DAY TUE.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM SATURDAY...A STRONG POSITIVE HEIGHT ANOMALY WILL BE
LOCATED OFF THE US WEST COAST AT THE START OF THE EXTENDED RANGE
FORECAST. THIS WILL KEEP THE ERN CONUS UNDER A BROAD TROUGH THROUGH
MOST OF THE WED-SAT PERIOD. WHILE THE GFS AND ECMWF ARE IN GENERAL
AGREEMENT WITH THE SIGNIFICANT SYNOPTIC SCALE FEATURES...THERE
CONTINUE TO BE SHORT WAVE...AND THUS SENSIBLE WX DIFFERENCES...IN
THEIR SOLUTIONS. HPC HAS ACCOUNTED FOR THIS BY GOING MAINLY WITH A
BLEND OF THE GFS AND ECMWF ENSEMBLES FROM WED ONWARD.

FOR TUE NIGHT/WEDNESDAY...A POTENT SHORT WAVE WILL LIFT ACROSS THE
NEW ENGLAND STATES TUE NIGHT. STRONG RIDGING DOWN ACROSS THE GULF
WILL LIMIT THE SFC REFLECTION OF THE TROUGH THIS FAR SOUTH. IN
FACT...THERE ISN/T AN IDENTIFIABLE SFC FRONT...OR MUCH FORCING...AND
THAT PART OF THE FORECAST WILL REMAIN DRY. THE LLVL THICKNESSES
IMPLY WELL ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES ON WED AS WELL.

THE LONG WAVE THROUGH WILL DEEPEN A LITTLE OVER THE ERN STATES WED
NGHT/THU...AIDED BY A SHORT WAVE THAT CROSSES THE FA THU MORNING.
CHANCE POPS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE FORECAST AHEAD OF THIS THROUGH.
TEMPERATURES STILL LOOK MILD...AND ONLY RAIN IS EXPECTED. THE
ENSEMBLES HAVE ANOTHER SHORT WAVE CROSSING THE FA ON FRIDAY. TIMING
THIS SERIES OF SHORT WAVES FOR THE THU/FRI TIME FRAME IS NEARLY
IMPOSSIBLE...AND LOW CHANCE POPS HAVE BEEN SPREAD OUT ACROSS MOST OF
BOTH DAYS. IN REALITY...PCPN CHANCES WILL PROBABLY BE CONFINED TO
SHORTER INTERVALS...BUT THOSE INTERVALS CANNOT BE NAILED DOWN.

INTERESTINGLY...THERE IS PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT ON THE LONG WAVE AXIS
PUSHING EAST OF THE REGION ON DAY 7 AND INTO NEXT SUNDAY...AND THAT
PART OF THE FORECAST LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. HOWEVER...MUCH COLDER AIR
WILL PROBABLY FOLLOW THE THOUGH...WITH THE PERIOD OF ABOVE NORMAL
TEMPS COMING /BRIEFLY?/ TO AN END AT THE END OF THE EXTEND RANGE.

&&

.AVIATION /04Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
AT KCLT/KHKY...LIGHT RAIN WILL GRADUALLY SPREAD NORTH ACROSS THE
WESTERN CAROLINAS THIS EVENING...REACHING KCLT AND KHKY BETWEEN 05Z
AND 07Z. VFR CONDITIONS WILL ACCOMPANY THE PRECIP FOR THE FIRST
COUPLE OF HOURS...BUT AS THE LOWER LEVELS SATURATE...MVFR CONDITIONS
ARE EXPECTED BY DAYBREAK...WITH IFR CIGS EXPECTED BY AROUND SUNRISE.
RAIN/IFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH MOST OF SUNDAY. LIGHT SOUTH
WINDS WILL BECOME NE AFTER MIDNIGHT...AS COLD HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE
MIDWEST BEGINS TO SPILL EAST OF THE APPALACHIANS. NE WINDS ARE
EXPECTED TO BECOME FAIRLY STRONG BY LATE MORNING...GENERALLY AROUND
15 KT WITH SOME GUSTS IN THE LOWER 20S POSSIBLE. BY THE END OF THE
PERIOD...ENOUGH COLD AIR WILL SPILL INTO THE REGION TO ALLOW RAIN TO
MIX WITH SLEET AND SNOW AT KHKY BEFORE ENDING. THE PROBABILITY OF
THIS OCCURRING AT KCLT IS LOW...BUT NOT ZERO.

ELSEWHERE...RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE UPSTATE SC TERMINALS AND KAVL
THIS EVENING. ALTHOUGH VFR CONDITIONS WILL LINGER FOR A COUPLE OF
HOURS AFTER PRECIP BEGINS...MVFR IS EXPECTED AT ALL TERMINALS BY
06Z. IFR SHOULD THEN SETTLE IN AFTER MIDNIGHT...AND LINGER THROUGH
THE DAY SUNDAY. COLD HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE MIDWEST WILL BEGIN TO
SPILL EAST OF THE APPALACHIANS TONIGHT...WHICH WILL ALLOW WINDS TO
TURN TO THE NE BY DAYBREAK. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME FAIRLY
STRONG BY LATE MORNING...GENERALLY AROUND 15 KT WITH SOME GUSTS IN
THE LOWER 20S POSSIBLE. BY THE END OF THE PERIOD...ENOUGH COLD AIR
WILL SPILL INTO THE REGION TO ALLOW RAIN TO MIX WITH SLEET AND SNOW
AT KAVL BEFORE ENDING.

OUTLOOK...PRECIP WILL CHANGE TO ALL SNOW AT KAVL BY SUNDAY
EVENING...WITH LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE. OTHERWISE...PRECIP WILL
BECOME TO AN END...AND GRADUALLY IMPROVING FLT CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SUNDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY MONDAY. QUIET WX CONDS ARE
EXPECTED  MONDAY AND TUESDAY WITH SHOWER CHANCES INCREASING
WEDNESDAY.

AN EXPERIMENTAL AVIATION FORECAST CONSISTENCY TABLE SHOWING THE
PERCENTAGE OF GUIDANCE MEMBERS AGREEING WITH THE SCHEDULED ISSUANCE
CATEGORY IS AVAILABLE AT FOLLOWING LINK (USE LOWER CASE)...

WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GSP/AVIATION/TABLES.HTM

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...NONE.
NC...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 7 AM SUNDAY TO MIDNIGHT EST SUNDAY
     NIGHT FOR NCZ033-049-050-501-503-505.
     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 7 AM EST SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING
     FOR NCZ048-052.
SC...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...ARK/JDL
SHORT TERM...RB
LONG TERM...MCAVOY
AVIATION...JDL
Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 18, 3:11 PM EST, 7 hours 39 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
311 PM EST SAT FEB 18 2012

NCZ033-049-050-501-503-505-192015-
AVERY-YANCEY-MITCHELL-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-
MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
311 PM EST SAT FEB 18 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM SUNDAY TO MIDNIGHT EST
SUNDAY NIGHT...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER STORM WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

NCZ048-051>053-058-059-062>065-507-509-192015-
MADISON-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-
SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-
POLK MOUNTAINS-
311 PM EST SAT FEB 18 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE OVER TO SNOW AT ELEVATIONS ABOVE 3500
FEET ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON. SOME LOCATIONS COULD HAVE A PERIOD OF
HEAVY SNOW LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH AN ACCUMULATION
OF 1 TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLE...MAINLY OVER THE SMOKIES AND BALSAM
MOUNTAINS. AN ELEVATION DEPENDENT SNOW ADVISORY MAY BE ISSUED LATE
TONIGHT OR SUNDAY MORNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-502-504-
506-508-510-SCZ001>014-019-192015-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-
DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-
UNION NC-GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE-EASTERN MCDOWELL-
GREATER RUTHERFORD-EASTERN POLK-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-
GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-
GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-
LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
311 PM EST SAT FEB 18 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT
NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

A DUSTING OF SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER PARTS OF THE NORTH
CAROLINA FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
ADVISORY ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW ARE NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 19, 4:40 AM ESTWinter Weather AdvisoryGSPAlexander, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Davie and 10 more22 hr

Nearby

Winter Storm Watches in North Carolina, 2012Every winter storm watch in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.