Very cold Arctic high pressure was in place over the region as a surface low developed along the southeast coast due to an eastward moving shortwave. All of central North Carolina was under a winter storm warning.
Every event with a place to put it; 31 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS RAH wrote it up.
Very cold Arctic high pressure was in place over the region as a surface low developed along the southeast coast due to an eastward moving shortwave. All of central North Carolina was under a winter storm warning. Snowfall totals ranged from 1-3 inches across the extreme northwestern Piedmont to a trace across the southeastern portion of the forecast area. Freezing rain also fell across all of the region, ranging from a quarter to a third of an inch across the south and east to just a trace further north and west.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Raleigh, NC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 16, 3:30 PM EST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
330 PM EST MON FEB 16 2015
.SYNOPSIS...A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL STRENGTHEN OVER THE DEEP
SOUTH THIS AFTERNOON...TRACK NORTHEAST ALONG THE CAROLINA COAST
TONIGHT...THEN TRACK OFFSHORE INTO THE ATLANTIC ON TUESDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AS OF 300 PM MONDAY...
...POTENTIAL FOR CRIPPLING ICE STORM INCREASING TONIGHT...
...WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAIN IN
EFFECT...
OVERVIEW: SHORTWAVE ENERGY TRACKING ACROSS THE CENTRAL MS RIVER
VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON WILL PROGRESS INTO THE CAROLINAS AND MID-
ATLANTIC TONIGHT. AN ATTENDANT SFC LOW WILL STRENGTHEN AS IT TRACKS
EAST ACROSS THE DEEP SOUTH THIS AFTERNOON...THEN ENE ACROSS COASTAL
PORTIONS OF THE CAROLINAS TONIGHT.
PRECIP CHANCES/AMOUNTS: INCREASING FROM WEST/SW THIS AFTERNOON...
INCREASING TO NEAR 100% EVERYWHERE BETWEEN SUNSET AND MIDNIGHT...
REMAINING ~100% OVERNIGHT...THEN ENDING FROM WEST-EAST 09-15Z TUE
MORNING. STORM TOTAL LIQUID EQUIV PRECIP AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO
RANGE FROM 0.50-1.00".
PRECIP TYPE/ACCUM: AN ATYPICALLY COLD/DRY ANTECEDENT AIRMASS AND A
PROGRESSIVE SHORTWAVE TROUGH /ATTENDANT SFC CYCLONE/ TRACKING JUST
SOUTH OF THE REGION WILL SET THE STAGE FOR A POTENTIALLY CRIPPLING
ICE STORM ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NC. THE ARCTIC AIRMASS IN PLACE
WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT EVAP COOLING POTENTIAL AND THE
PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF THE SHORTWAVE WILL MINIMIZE THE DURATION OF
WARM ADVECTION /RETURN FLOW/ FROM THE ATLANTIC (ESP IN THE LOWEST
LEVELS). ANY PRECIP THAT FALLS PRIOR TO 00Z THIS EVENING WILL BE
SNOW...TRANSITIONING TO SLEET/FREEZING RAIN FROM SOUTH/SE TO
NORTH/NW BETWEEN SUNSET AND MIDNIGHT AS STRONG WARM ADVECTION PUSHES
A PRONOUNCED WARM NOSE INTO CENTRAL NC. THOUGH SIGNIFICANT SNOW
ACCUMULATION WILL BE LIMITED TO THE FAR N/NW PIEDMONT...SIGNIFICANT
ICE ACCUMULATION WILL BE POSSIBLE ELSEWHERE...WITH POTENTIALLY
CRIPPLING ICE ACCUMULATION ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE TRIANGLE...
COASTAL PLAIN...SANDHILLS...AND SW PIEDMONT WHERE SOME OF THE 12Z
GUIDANCE IS INDICATING AS MUCH AS 0.50-1.00" OF ICE. ALTHOUGH
REALITY IS LIKELY TO BE MUCH LOWER DUE TO VARIABLE PTYPES (SLEET
VERSUS FZRA) AND DURATIONS...SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE IS PRESENT TO
WARRANT AN INCREASE IN ICE ACCUMULATION AMOUNTS TO 0.25-0.50" SOUTH
OF THE I-85 CORRIDOR...WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS ALONG AND JUST SOUTH
OF THE HWY 64 CORRIDOR. A SHARP GRADIENT IN ICE ACCUMULATION IS
LIKELY NEAR THE SC BORDER WHERE WARM ADVECTION SHOULD ALLOW TEMPS TO
RISE ABOVE FREEZING AS THE SFC LOW PROGRESSES THROUGH SC TOWARD THE
NC COAST...WHICH SUPPORTS KEEPING THE SOUTHEAST COASTAL PLAIN IN A
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. ELSEWHERE...TEMPS SHOULD STABILIZE IN THE
LOWER/MID 20S ACROSS THE N/NW PIEDMONT TONIGHT AND MID/UPPER 20S
ALONG THE HWY 64 CORRIDOR.
IMPACT: SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATION ALONG/SOUTH OF THE HWY 64
CORRIDOR (INCLUDING TRIANGLE) WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE
SEVERE/PROLONGED IMPACTS ON LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING DOWNED
TREES/POWER LINES...POWER OUTAGES...PROPERTY DAMAGE...IMPASSABLE
ROADS...ETC. -VINCENT
&&
.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AS OF 325 PM MONDAY...
A SHORTWAVE RESULTING FROM A MERGER OF A WAVE CURRENTLY DIVING
THROUGH THE ROCKIES AND THE SHEARING LOW OVER THE CALIFORNIA
BAJA...WILL ROUND THE BASE OF THE FULL-LATITUDE TROUGH AND CROSS THE
SOUTHEAST US TUESDAY NIGHT. DEEP MOISTURE AND THE SYNOPTIC FRONTAL
ZONE WILL BE OFFSHORE BY THEN...SO IT APPEARS THE RESULTING SURFACE
LOW AND PRECIP WILL ALSO BE OFFSHORE AS WELL. LOWS IN THE UPPER
TEENS TO MID 20S.
A SPEED MAX AND ASSOCIATED VORTICITY WILL DIVE THROUGH THE BACK SIDE
OF THE DEEP UPPER TROUGH AND CROSS THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY. FORECAST
SOUNDINGS SHOW SUFFICIENT MOISTURE FOR ICE IN THE -10 TO -20C
LAYER...WHICH ITSELF IS PRETTY LOW IN THIS ARCTIC AIRMASS. Q-VECTOR
CONVERGENCE INCREASE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...AND COMBINED WITH STEEP
LOW-LEVEL LAPSE RATES AND SOME WEAK INSTABILITY...SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH
SUPPORT FOR A LOW-END CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS AS THE NEXT ARCTIC
FRONT PLOWS THROUGH THE AREA. IF THESE SNOW SHOWERS WERE TO
DEVELOP...THERE COULD BE SOME TRAVEL CONCERNS GIVEN HOW COLD GROUND
TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO BE. HOWEVER...RATES WOULD NEED TO BE
HIGH AND CONFIDENCE IS VERY LOW AT THIS POINT. HIGHS WEDNESDAY ONLY
INT HE LOW TO MID 30S.
THE STRONG ARCTIC FRONT WILL BE EAST OF THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND
THICKNESSES ARE FORECAST TO PLUMMET TO SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
OF 1220M BOTH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY MORNING AS STRONG HIGH PRESSURE
SETTLES OVER HEAD BY FRIDAY. THE GFS IS MUCH COLDER THAN THE ECMWF
WITH 1200M...A VALUE THAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN REACH ONLY A COUPLE
TIMES IN THE PAST 50 YEARS. EVEN WITH THE WARMER ECMWF...LOWS WILL
BE IN THE LOW TI MID SINGLE DIGIT RANGE...AND A NEGATIVE TEMP CANT
BE RULED OUT AT THIS POINT. HIGHS THURSDAY LOOK TO ONLY BE IN THE
UPPER TEENS TO MID 20S BASED ON THICKNESS SCHEMES AND DRY ADIABATIC
MIXING. SLIGHTLY WARMER ON FRIDAY IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S.THIS
WILL VERY LIKELY BE RECORD BREAKING COLD THAT WILL WARRANT SOME
PREPARATIONS AND EXTRA PRECAUTIONS.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
AS OF 325 PM MONDAY...
...RECORD BREAKING AND DANGEROUSLY COLD CONDITIONS FOR THE SECOND
HALF OF THE WEEK...
THE PATTERN SHIFTS A LITTLE OVER THE WEEKEND AS THE UPPER LOW NEAR
THE HUDSON BAY FILLS IN AND THE UPPER LEVEL FLOW OVER THE SOUTHERN
US TURNS TO SOUTHWESTERLY. MODELS ARE SUGGESTIVE OF A SYSTEM
LIFTING FROM THE SOUTHWEST US THROUGH TOWARD THE MIDWEST.
HOWEVER...THE ECWMF AND GFS SHOW MARKEDLY DIFFERENTLY SOLUTIONS.
THE ECMWF SHOWS A STORM TRACK THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY WHILE THE GFS
LINGERS THE ARCTIC FRONT NEAR OUR LATITUDE AND HAS A COUPLE "OVER-
RUNNING" EVENTS THAT COULD CAUSE SOME WINTRY WEATHER. GIVEN THE
IMPENDING STORM AND UNCERTAINTY...HAVE LEANED ON WPC FOR THIS PERIOD
WITH BASICALLY A CHANCE POPS THROUGH THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEKEND
AND HIGHS REBOUNDING INTO THE UPPER 30S AND 40S.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AS OF 100 PM MONDAY...
CURRENTLY VFR CONDITIONS WITH MID LEVEL CIGS ACROSS THE AREA WILL
DETERIORATE AS WE MOVE IN TO THE EVENING HOURS... WITH IFR CIGS
EXPECTED THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS... AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
MOVES ACROSS THE SE US AND OFF THE VA/NC COAST BY EARLY TUES.
PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN AS SNOW/SLEET AND SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA
BETWEEN 20Z AND 23Z... BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO A MIXTURE OF SLEET
AND FREEZING RAIN... WITH KFAY POTENTIALLY CHANGING TO RAIN
OVERNIGHT. GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT WILL BEGIN AFTER 12Z TUES... WITH ALL
SITES EXPECTED TO BECOME MVFR TUES AFTERNOON.
ANOTHER SYSTEM WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR SUB-VFR CONDITIONS WED
MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING A HIGH
LIKELIHOOD OF VFR CONDITIONS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY... BEFORE ANOTHER
SYSTEM POTENTIALLY IMPACTS THE AREA ON SATURDAY.
&&
.CLIMATE...
...THE FOLLOWING ARE RECORD LOW AND LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR
FEBRUARY 16TH...19TH...AND 20TH...FOR GSO...RDU...AND FAY...
RECORD LOWS
GSO RDU FAY
FEBRUARY 16: 8 IN 1905 11 IN 1905 17 IN 1991
FEBRUARY 19: 12 IN 1979 11 IN 1979 8 IN 1958
FEBRUARY 20: 14 IN 1934 13 IN 1979 12 IN 1958
RECORD LOW MAXIMUMS
GSO RDU FAY
FEBRUARY 16: 27 IN 1958 30 IN 1943 33 IN 1943
FEBRUARY 19: 32 IN 1958 31 IN 1903 26 IN 1979
FEBRUARY 20: 29 IN 1947 32 IN 1947 37 IN 1972
&&
.RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO NOON EST
TUESDAY FOR NCZ011-027-028-042-043-077-078.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 AM EST
TUESDAY FOR NCZ007>010-021>026-038>041-073>076-083-084.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO NOON EST
TUESDAY FOR NCZ085-086-088-089.
&&
SYNOPSIS...VINCENT
NEAR TERM...VINCENT
SHORT TERM...BLS
LONG TERM...BLS
AVIATION...99
CLIMATE...RAHHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 431 PM EST MON FEB 16 2015 NCZ007>010-021>026-038>041-073>076-083-084-172145- PERSON-GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-FORSYTH-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE-ORANGE- DURHAM-FRANKLIN-DAVIDSON-RANDOLPH-CHATHAM-WAKE-STANLY-MONTGOMERY- MOORE-LEE-ANSON-RICHMOND- 431 PM EST MON FEB 16 2015 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EST TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. IN ADDITION... VERY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO PLAGUE THE AREA ALL WEEK. 3 TO 5 DAYS OF SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES CAN BE EXPECTED INTO SATURDAY. THE HEART OF THE COLDEST AIR WILL ARRIVE WEDNESDAY AND LAST INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. RECORD LOWS NEAR ZERO INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS WILL OCCUR. PREPARE NOW FOR THE EXTENDED AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUSLY COLD TEMPERATURES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. NCZ011-027-028-042-043-077-078-172145- HALIFAX-NASH-EDGECOMBE-JOHNSTON-WILSON-HARNETT-WAYNE- 431 PM EST MON FEB 16 2015 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. IN ADDITION... VERY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO PLAGUE THE AREA ALL WEEK. 3 TO 4 DAYS OF SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES CAN BE EXPECTED INTO SATURDAY. THE HEART OF THE COLDEST AIR WILL ARRIVE WEDNESDAY AND LAST INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. LOWS NEAR 5 DEGREES WILL OCCUR. PREPARE NOW FOR THE EXTENDED AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUSLY COLD TEMPERATURES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED. NCZ085-086-088-089-172145- SCOTLAND-HOKE-CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON- 431 PM EST MON FEB 16 2015 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. IN ADDITION... VERY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO PLAGUE THE AREA ALL WEEK. 2 TO 3 DAYS OF SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES CAN BE EXPECTED INTO SATURDAY. THE HEART OF THE COLDEST AIR WILL ARRIVE WEDNESDAY AND LAST INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. LOWS NEAR TEN DEGREES WILL OCCUR. PREPARE NOW FOR THE EXTENDED AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUSLY COLD TEMPERATURES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC 404 PM EST MON FEB 16 2015 NCZ007>011-021>028-038>043-073>078-083>086-088-089-170500- PERSON-GRANVILLE-VANCE-WARREN-HALIFAX-FORSYTH-GUILFORD-ALAMANCE- ORANGE-DURHAM-FRANKLIN-NASH-EDGECOMBE-DAVIDSON-RANDOLPH-CHATHAM- WAKE-JOHNSTON-WILSON-STANLY-MONTGOMERY-MOORE-LEE-HARNETT-WAYNE- ANSON-RICHMOND-SCOTLAND-HOKE-CUMBERLAND-SAMPSON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ROXBORO...OXFORD...BUTNER...CREEDMOOR... HENDERSON...NORLINA...WARRENTON...ROANOKE RAPIDS... WINSTON-SALEM...GREENSBORO...HIGH POINT...BURLINGTON...GRAHAM... CHAPEL HILL...CARRBORO...DURHAM...LOUISBURG...FRANKLINTON... NASHVILLE...RED OAK...SHARPSBURG...SPRING HOPE...ROCKY MOUNT... LEXINGTON...THOMASVILLE...ASHEBORO...ARCHDALE...TRINITY... SILER CITY...PITTSBORO...RALEIGH...CARY...SMITHFIELD...CLAYTON... SELMA...BENSON...WILSON...ALBEMARLE...TROY...BISCOE... MOUNT GILEAD...SOUTHERN PINES...PINEHURST...ABERDEEN... SEVEN LAKES...SANFORD...DUNN...ERWIN...ANGIER...LILLINGTON... GOLDSBORO...WADESBORO...POLKTON...ROCKINGHAM...HAMLET... EAST ROCKINGHAM...LAURINBURG...RAEFORD...ROCKFISH...SILVER CITY... FAYETTEVILLE...CLINTON 404 PM EST MON FEB 16 2015 ...POTENTIALLY CRIPPLING ICE ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS PARTS OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA TONIGHT... THE LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE IS NOW INDICATING SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATION OF SLEET AND ICE ACROSS A LARGE SWATH OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. IT APPEARS THAT THE HEAVIEST PRECIPIATION WILL FALL LATE THIS EVENING AND THROUGH THE MIDDLE OVERNIGHT HOURS TONIGHT. DURING THAT TIME...PRECIP RATES MAY BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES...WITH TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW 30 DEGREES. AS SUCH...HEAVY ACCUMULATIONS OF EITHER SLEET OR ICE WILL HAPPEN. LOCATIONS THAT HAVE THE BEST CHANCE TO SEE THE PRECIPITATION REMAIN SLEET ARE AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF THE I-85 CORRIDOR...WHERE AN INCH OR TWO OF SLEET MAY ACCUMULATE ON TOP OF A COUPLE INCHES OF SNOW. THIS INCLUDES LOCATIONS SUCH AS WINSTON-SALEM...GREENSBORO... BURLINGTON...ROXBORO...AND HENDERSON. THIS WILL RESULT IN TREACHEROUS TRAVEL TONIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING..AND PERHAPS ISOLATED DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES. SOUTH OF I-85 DOWN TOWARD THE HIGHWAY 64 CORRIDOR...PRECIPITATION DURING THE HEAVY PERIOD OVERNIGHT MAY BE A MIX OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN. A QUARTER TO HALF INCH OF SLEET...AND ANOTHER QUARTER TO HALF INCH OF ICE FROM FREEZING RAIN...ARE POSSIBLE. THIS INCLUDES LOCATIONS SUCH AS ASHEBORO...CHAPEL HILL...RALEIGH...LOUISBURG..AND HALIFAX. IN ADDITION TO NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TRAVEL CONDITIONS TONIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING...THERE WILL ALSO BE MORE NUMEROUS DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES. THE WORST OF THE FREEZING RAIN AND ICE ACCUMULATION LATE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT WILL BE POSSIBLE IN A AREA ALONG AND ABOUT 25 MILES SOUTH OF THE HIGHWAY 64 CORRIDOR...BASICALLY FROM ALBEMARLE...CARTHAGE...TO SANFORD...TO LILLINGTON AND SMITHFIELD...TO WILSON...GOLDSBORO...AND TARBORO. MOST OF THIS CORRIDOR WILL SEE A QUARTER TO A THIRD INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION...WITH POTENTIAL CRIPPLING AMOUNTS OF A HALF INCH TO AS MUCH AS THREE-QUARTERS OF AN INCH IN SOME LOCALIZED SPOTS. AMOUNTS LIKE THIS TYPICALLY RESULT IN WIDESPREAD DOWNED TREES...POWER OUTAGES THAT MAY LAST FOR DAYS...AND PROLONGED IMPACTS TO TRAVEL CONDITIONS. THE SANDHILLS AND SOUTHERN COASTAL PLAIN REGIONS...INCLUDING LOCATIONS SUCH AS ROCKINGHAM...LAURINBURG...FAYETTEVILLE..AND CLINTON...WILL HAVE TEMPERATURES CLOSER TO FREEZING AND SLIGHTLY LESS OVERALL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS. STILL...UP TO TWO-TENTHS OF AN INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE TONIGHT...WHICH WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS AND ISOLATED POCKETS OF DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES. THIS SCENARIO IS COUNTING ON SEVERAL HOURS OF FREEZING RAIN. IF THE PRECIPITATION REMAINS SLEET LONGER THAN EXPECTED...THEN ICE AMOUNTS WILL BE LESS. CONVERSELY....IF THE TRANSITION TO FREEZING RAIN OCCURS SOONER...A WIDESPREAD DEVASTATING ICE STORM WILL OCCUR OVER A LARGE SECTION OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. AS IS USUALLY THE CASE...IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE TRACK OF THE SURFACE LOW. A DEVIATION IN THE TRACK ON THE ORDER OF 50 MILES OR SO WILL PLAY A HUGE ROLE ON THE WINTER WEATHER IMPACTS ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA TONIGHT. ALL RESIDENTS OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA...ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LIVE ALONG AND NEAR THE HIGHWAY 64 AND I-85 CORRIDORS...SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE FOLLOWING: IMPOSSIBLE TRAVEL CONDITIONS LATER THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING DUE TO ICE-COVERED ROADS. PEOPLE SHOULD PREPARE TO SIMPLY STAY OFF THE ROADS TONIGHT. IF YOU ATTEMPT TO DRIVE TONIGHT... IT'S LIKELY THAT YOU'LL END UP SLIDING OFF THE ROAD AND GETTING STUCK FOR A WHILE OR WORSE. WHILE IT'S GREAT TO KEEP EMERGENCY SUPPLIES IN YOUR CAR SUCH AS A FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...BLANKETS...AND WATER...THE BEST THING TO DO TONIGHT IS SIMPLY STAY OFF THE ROADS. TRAVEL IN THE HARDEST HIT AREAS MAY BE IMPACTED FOR DAYS. WIDESPREAD DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES...ESPECIALLY IN THOSE LOCATIONS HARDEST HIT BY ICE ACCUMULATION. IF YOU'RE IN ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT AREAS...YOU MAY BE WITHOUT POWER...AND WITHOUT HEAT...FOR DAYS. STRUCTURE DAMAGE...AND INJURIES OR WORSE...DUE TO FALLING TREES. IF YOU HAVE A LOT A TREES AROUND YOUR PROPERTY...BE READY TO QUICKLY MOVE INTO AN INTERIOR ROOM OF YOUR HOME OR OFFICE...GET DOWN LOW...AND SEEK SHELTER UNDER A STURDY PIECE OF FURNITURE SUCH A TABLE OR WORKBENCH...IF YOU BEGIN TO SEE OR HEAR TREES FALLING AROUND YOUR PROPERTY. DO NOT VENTURE OUTSIDE UNTIL THE ICE HAS MELTED OFF THE TREES. AFTER THE POWER GOES OUT...BE SURE TO EXERCISE CAUTION AND SAFETY WHEN USING USING ALTERNATIVE HEATING AND COOKING SOURCES AND GENERATORS. TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING...NEVER USE GAS GRILLS OR ALTERNATIVE COOKING SOURCES INDOORS. MAKE SURE ALTERNATIVE HEATING SOURCES ARE PROPERLY VENTILATED. WHEN USING YOUR POWER GENERATOR...MAKE SURE IT IS LOCATED WELL AWAY FROM YOUR HOME OR OFFICE...AND WELL AWAY FROM INDOOR AIR INTAKES. IF YOU VENTURE OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM DOWNED POWERLINES. FOR UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT THE STORM...VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RALEIGH. FOR WINTER STORM SAFETY TIPS AND INFORMATION...PLEASE VISIT READYNC.ORG...COURTESY OF OUR PARTERS AT THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
420 PM EST MON FEB 16 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM SNOW WINSTON-SALEM 36.10N 80.26W
02/16/2015 E0.0 INCH FORSYTH NC TRAINED SPOTTER
SNOW STARTING TO ACCUMULATE ON SECONDARY ROADS
&&
EVENT NUMBER RAH1500095
BLSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
430 PM EST MON FEB 16 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0425 PM SNOW EFLAND 36.06N 79.17W
02/16/2015 E0.0 INCH ORANGE NC TRAINED SPOTTER
LIGHT SNOW IN EFLAND.
&&
EVENT NUMBER RAH1500096
BLSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
442 PM EST MON FEB 16 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0435 PM SNOW WINSTON-SALEM 36.10N 80.26W
02/16/2015 M0.5 INCH FORSYTH NC TRAINED SPOTTER
FROM A TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER RAH1500097
BLSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
445 PM EST MON FEB 16 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0444 PM SNOW GRAHAM 36.06N 79.39W
02/16/2015 M0.0 INCH ALAMANCE NC TRAINED SPOTTER
SNOW IS STARTING TO ACCUMULATE IN GRAHAM
&&
EVENT NUMBER RAH1500098
BLSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
31 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Snowfall amounts of 1-2 inches fell across the county. In addition, several hundredths of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of an inch to an inch and a half fell across the county. In addition, a several hundredths to a tenth of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of an inch to an inch and a half fell across the county. In addition, a several hundredths to a tenth of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts 2 to 4 inches fell across the county. In addition, a trace of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts 1 to 3 inches fell across the county. In addition, a trace of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts 1 to 3 inches fell across the county. In addition, a trace of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of around an inch fell across the county. In addition, around a tenth of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of around a half an inch to an inch fell across the county. In addition, a quarter of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of an inch to an inch and half fell across the county. In addition, a tenth of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of an inch to an inch and half fell across the county. In addition, a tenth of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of around an inch fell across the county. In addition, a tenth to a quarter of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of around a half inch to an inch fell across the county. In addition, a tenth to a quarter of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of around an inch to an inch and a half fell across the county. In addition, several hundredths to a tenth of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of around an inch to an inch and a half fell across the county. In addition, several hundredths to a tenth of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of an inch and a half to 3 inches fell across the county. In addition, a trace to a tenth of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of around a trace fell across the county. However, a quarter of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of an inch to an inch and a half fell across the county. In addition, a tenth to a quarter of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of a half of an inch to an inch fell across the county. In addition, a tenth to a quarter of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of a half of an inch to an inch fell across the county. In addition, around a tenth of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of an inch to an inch and a half fell across the county. In addition, a tenth to a quarter of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of an inch to an inch and a half fell across the county. In addition, several hundredths of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of an inch to an inch and a half fell across the county. In addition, several hundredths of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of around an inch fell across the county. In addition, several hundredths of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches fell across the county. In addition, a trace of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches fell across the county. In addition, a trace of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches fell across the county. In addition, a trace of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of around a trace fell across the county. However, a quarter of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of around a trace fell across the county. However, a quarter to a third of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of around a trace fell across the county. However, a quarter to a third of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of around a trace fell across the county. However, a quarter to a third of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
Snowfall amounts of around a trace fell across the county. However, a quarter to a third of an inch of freezing rain accrual was reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, February 2015
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 560488, 560544, 560545, 560546, 560547, 560548, 560494, 560503, 560505, 560507, 560511, 560516, 560519, 560522, 560525, 560528, 560532, 560537, 560541, 560542, 560566, 560569, 560571, 560577, 560580, 560583, 560589, 560496, 560498, 560500, 560501.