Alert archive / North Carolina / Winter Storm Watches in 2021

Winter Storm Watch 2, NWS Raleigh, NC

February 16, 20219 counties in North Carolina

NWS Raleigh, NC issued this winter storm watch at Feb 16, 2021, 3:57 AM EST for 9 counties in North Carolina. It took effect at Feb 18, 2021, 12:00 AM EST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 16, 2021, 3:57 AM EST (08:57 UTC)
In effect from
Feb 18, 2021, 12:00 AM EST
Expired
Feb 17, 2021, 3:13 AM EST
In force
Issued by
NWS Raleigh, NC

Counties Alamance County, NC, Durham County, NC, Forsyth County, NC, Granville County, NC, Guilford County, NC, Orange County, NC, Person County, NC, Vance County, NC, Warren County, NC

The radar

The Raleigh/Durham radar (KRAX), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:59 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, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 76 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 2021-02-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 13 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°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 2021-02-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 592 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
13 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
403 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
78 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
592 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
770 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

511 
WWUS42 KRAH 160857
WSWRAH

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
357 AM EST Tue Feb 16 2021

NCZ007-021-022-162100-
/O.NEW.KRAH.WS.A.0002.210218T0500Z-210219T0500Z/
Person-Forsyth-Guilford-
Including the cities of Roxboro, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, 
and High Point
357 AM EST Tue Feb 16 2021

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Significant icing possible. Total ice accumulations of at
  least one quarter of an inch possible.

* WHERE...Person, Forsyth and Guilford Counties.

* WHEN...From late Wednesday night through Thursday evening.

* IMPACTS...Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the
  ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous conditions
  could impact the morning or evening commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. 

&&

$$
3 follow-up statements
232 
WWUS42 KRAH 161546
WSWRAH

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1046 AM EST Tue Feb 16 2021

NCZ008>010-023>025-170400-
/O.EXA.KRAH.WS.A.0002.210218T0500Z-210219T0500Z/
Granville-Vance-Warren-Alamance-Orange-Durham-
Including the cities of Oxford, Creedmoor, Henderson, Kittrell, 
Warrenton, Norlina, Burlington, Graham, Mebane, Hillsborough, 
Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, and Rougemont
1046 AM EST Tue Feb 16 2021

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Significant icing possible. Total ice accumulations of 
  one tenth to two tenths of an inch possible.

* WHERE...Portions of central North Carolina.

* WHEN...From late Wednesday night through Thursday evening.

* IMPACTS...Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the 
  ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. 

&&

$$

NCZ007-021-022-170400-
/O.CON.KRAH.WS.A.0002.210218T0500Z-210219T0500Z/
Person-Forsyth-Guilford-
Including the cities of Roxboro, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, 
and High Point
1046 AM EST Tue Feb 16 2021

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Significant icing possible. Total ice accumulations of 
  at least one quarter of an inch possible.

* WHERE...Person, Forsyth and Guilford Counties.

* WHEN...From late Wednesday night through Thursday evening.

* IMPACTS...Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the 
  ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. 

&&

$$
651 
WWUS42 KRAH 170331
WSWRAH

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
1031 PM EST Tue Feb 16 2021


NCZ007>010-021>025-171145-
/O.CON.KRAH.WS.A.0002.210218T0500Z-210219T0500Z/
Person-Granville-Vance-Warren-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-Orange-
Durham-
Including the cities of Roxboro, Oxford, Creedmoor, Henderson, 
Kittrell, Warrenton, Norlina, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, 
High Point, Burlington, Graham, Mebane, Hillsborough, 
Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, and Rougemont
1031 PM EST Tue Feb 16 2021

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT
THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Significant icing possible. Total ice accumulations of
  two tenth to three tenths of an inch possible.

* WHERE...Portions of central North Carolina.

* WHEN...From late Wednesday night through Thursday evening.

* IMPACTS...Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the 
  ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous 
  conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. 

&&

$$
664 
WWUS42 KRAH 170813
WSWRAH

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Raleigh NC
313 AM EST Wed Feb 17 2021

NCZ007>010-021>025-171700-
/O.UPG.KRAH.WS.A.0002.210218T0500Z-210219T0500Z/
/O.NEW.KRAH.WS.W.0004.210218T0500Z-210219T1200Z/
Person-Granville-Vance-Warren-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-Orange-
Durham-
Including the cities of Roxboro, Oxford, Creedmoor, Henderson, 
Kittrell, Warrenton, Norlina, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, 
High Point, Burlington, Graham, Mebane, Hillsborough, 
Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, and Rougemont
313 AM EST Wed Feb 17 2021

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 7 AM
EST FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Significant icing expected. Total ice accumulations of
  one quarter to one half inch, with locally higher 
  accumulations.

* WHERE...Portions of central North Carolina.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 7 AM EST Friday.

* IMPACTS...Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the
  ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous conditions
  could impact morning and evening commutes.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Some sleet could initially mix in with rain
  and freezing rain north of Interstate 85 tonight after midnight,
  but should come to an end by Thursday morning.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency. Prepare for possible power
outages. 

The latest road conditions for North Carolina can be obtained by
visiting DriveNC.gov.

&&

$$

NCZ038-039-171700-
/O.NEW.KRAH.WS.W.0004.210218T0500Z-210219T1200Z/
Davidson-Randolph-
Including the cities of Lexington, Thomasville, Asheboro, 
and Archdale
313 AM EST Wed Feb 17 2021

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 7 AM
EST FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Significant icing expected. Total ice accumulations of
  one quarter to one half inch.

* WHERE...Davidson and Randolph Counties.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 7 AM EST Friday.

* IMPACTS...Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the
  ice. Travel could be nearly impossible. The hazardous conditions
  could impact morning and evening commutes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency. Prepare for possible power
outages. 

The latest road conditions for North Carolina can be obtained by
visiting DriveNC.gov.

&&

$$

NCZ011-026-027-040-041-073>076-171700-
/O.NEW.KRAH.WW.Y.0006.210218T0500Z-210219T1200Z/
Halifax-Franklin-Nash-Chatham-Wake-Stanly-Montgomery-Moore-Lee-
Including the cities of Roanoke Rapids, Enfield, Scotland Neck, 
Louisburg, Franklinton, Nashville, Spring Hope, Rocky Mount, 
Siler City, Pittsboro, Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, 
Knightdale, Albemarle, Troy, Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Aberdeen,
Carthage, and Sanford
313 AM EST Wed Feb 17 2021

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO
7 AM EST FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Freezing rain expected. Total ice accumulations of 
  around one tenth of an inch.

* WHERE...Portions of central North Carolina.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 7 AM EST Friday.

* IMPACTS...Hazardous travel conditions are possible, mainly on
  bridges and overpasses. The hazardous conditions could impact
  the morning or evening commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. Prepare for possible
power outages. 

The latest road conditions for North Carolina can be obtained by
visiting DriveNC.gov.

&&

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Raleigh, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 15, 8:02 PM ESTRiver Flood WarningRAHHalifax, Northampton21 days
Feb 15, 8:02 PM ESTRiver Flood WarningRAHHalifax, Northampton19 days
Feb 15, 10:40 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementRAHHoke, Scotland50 min
Feb 15, 11:33 PM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryRAHDurham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Johnston and 6 more3 hr
Feb 16, 2:43 AM ESTRiver Flood WarningRAHCumberland7 hr
Feb 16, 4:54 AM ESTRiver Flood WarningRAHChatham21 hr
Feb 16, 12:49 PM ESTRiver Flood WarningRAHEdgecombe55 hr

Nearby

Winter Storm Watches in North Carolina, 2021Every winter storm watch in 2021

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.