A cold high pressure system arriving from the north, coinciding with the approach of a mid and upper level trough from the west allowed for winter weather to develop over central North Carolina. As precipitation developed during the day on February 20, colder air continued to be advected into North Carolina courtesy of strong high pressure located over the Great Lakes.
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.
A cold high pressure system arriving from the north, coinciding with the approach of a mid and upper level trough from the west allowed for winter weather to develop over central North Carolina. As precipitation developed during the day on February 20, colder air continued to be advected into North Carolina courtesy of strong high pressure located over the Great Lakes. A brief mixture of rain and snow changed to snow as the precipitation spread east throughout central NC during the late afternoon and early evening. Temperatures were near or slightly above freezing during the late afternoon, limiting accumulations. Temperatures fell below freezing during the evening and the snow accumulated rapidly. By late evening, light snow was falling over much of central North Carolina. The snow ended shortly after midnight at most locations. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged between one and four inches, with most Triad and Triangle locations receiving between two and three inches.
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 20, 11:40 AM EST, 3 hours 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Raleigh NC 1140 AM EST Thu Feb 20 2020 .SYNOPSIS... Low pressure will cross the Southeast states through tonight, as Arctic high pressure noses in from the northwest. The low will move offshore early Friday morning, with high pressure building over the region Friday through the weekend. This high pressure will move offshore Sunday night, with another storm system approaching from the west on Monday. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... As of 1140 AM Thursday... ...Winter Storm Warning in effect for the Northern Coastal Plain and Winter Weather Advisory in effect for the remainder of central NC through 7 AM Friday... Changes: Very few if any changes this morning. Looks like a later start to the snow across the north as the precipitation has not quite filled in across the north this morning. The longer these areas remain precipitation free, the more temperatures will be allowed to rise and the lower chances for significant snowfall amounts. Generally, expect snow accumulation to largely hold off until after 4 PM this afternoon, with increasing chances for snow through the evening and early overnight. However, there is still a good bit of uncertainty with respect to amounts. Previous Discussion (As of 430 AM): An expansive area of Arctic high pressure over the Central US will spread slowly east-southeastward into the region through Friday. Meanwhile, a secondary meso-scale bubble high has developed across Virginia tidewater region. Over the past 12 hours, it has been this high that has advected some modified cP air, featuring dewpoints in the 20s, into the NW Piedmont. Models indicate that this dry air will continue to advect south this afternoon through tonight, which will help to set the stage for a very complex winter storm. In the meantime, a positive-tilted long wave trough, extending NE to SW from the Canadian maritimes to the Southern Rockies will amplify as it traverses ESE, reaching the Carolinas tonight, before moving offshore on Friday. The approach of the upper trough will give rise to cyclogenesis off the SE coast this afternoon, with the low moving NE, but remaining off the Carolina Coast this evening and overnight. Renewed isentropic lift and overrunning along a sharpening H8 frontal zone retreating north into the area and within the right entrance region of the southern stream jet will result in light rain developing across southern portions of the area between 12 to 15z. Ensuing strong 700-850 Fgen will then fuel moderate to strong ascent across central NC between 18z Thu to 06z Friday, before this band weakens and pivots SE of the area through the predawn hours. Liquid equivalent is expected to range from around a 0.25" of an inch across the NW Piedmont to around an inch across southern coastal plain zones. As the modified cP air advects south through the afternoon and evening, the higher precip rates associated with the F-gen band(s) will result in strong wet-bulb cooling effect, allowing a NW to SE change-over from rain to snow across the area through the afternoon and evening. A brief period of some transition sleet and/or freezing can be expected, but not significant. Snow will taper off NW to SE through the evening and overnight hours, will some lingering light snow/flurries across the SE zones during the predawn hours. The proverbial "sweet spot" where the duration of liquid equivalent/saturation coincides with sufficiently cold air is expected to be across the northern and central coastal plain zones; with 3 to 4 inches of snow are possible. Elsewhere 1 to 3 inches are possible, with the lowest amounts across the southern/southwestern zones. As previous forecasts have highlighted, this is a very complex scenario, where many things have to come together, including having to overcome both above freezing BL temps, and abnormally warm ground temps from what is currently the warmest DJF on record! Additionally, without being underneath the heavier precip bands, it may be very difficult to accumulate any snow prior to sunset. Highs in the upper 30s/near 40 north to lower/mid 40s south, with gusty NELY into the teens to lower 20s, making it feel much cooler. Very cold tonight, especially with the potential for snow cover. Lows in the lower to mid 20s NW to lower 30s SE, with wind chills in the teens. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... As of 245 AM Thursday... Cannot rule out a snow shower remaining across the southeast early Friday morning, but think the bulk of the precipitation will have departed to the east. Expect that the bigger concern will be with leftover liquid from today's rain and snow freezing on area roadways with morning temperatures in the 20s and lower 30s. Air temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing until about noon. The bulk of cloud cover will have also moved east of the region by sunrise, and the day should be full of sun. With a stiff northerly wind, only a few locations are expected to reach 40 degrees, with the bulk of the area remaining in the 30s. Wind chills will generally remain in the 20s. Winds will become light overnight as high pressure begins to move into the region and the pressure gradient relaxes. Lows everywhere will fall into the low to mid 20s. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... As of 245 AM Thursday... Saturday and Sunday should be beautiful days as high pressure moves over the southeast United States. There will be little cloud cover and highs in the 50s. Cloud cover will dramatically increase Sunday night as low pressure moves over the central Plains. Models have backed off the speed of this system, so have also cut back on pops Sunday night - and may not have been aggressive enough in reducing them. However, that low will still be the major weather maker through the first half of the week. The low will be near Cleveland by Tuesday morning and will race northeast to Maine by Wednesday morning. The bulk of the rain appears to be ahead of the front, which will pass over the Carolinas on Tuesday. Have likely pops in the forecast Monday and Monday night, dropping off to chance pops Tuesday before a brief respite Tuesday night. Another weaker system is expected to travel across the Appalachians Wednesday, bringing chance pops back into the forecast. Temperatures will be a few degrees above normal. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... As of 1125 AM Thursday... Aviation conditions will be generally poor over the next 24 hours, although they will improve late in the forecast period. The combination of a frontal zone sitting to our S, low pressure tracking eastward along this front, and Arctic high pressure nosing in from the NW and N will bring a threat of mostly wintry precip to central NC. VFR to MVFR conditions and a light rain/sleet mix in these first few hours of the TAF valid period will drop to IFR/LIFR by 21z areawide, with a wintry mix, mostly snow with a little rain/sleet at INT/GSO/RDU/RWI and mostly rain with a little snow/sleet at FAY, to follow from late afternoon through the early morning hours. Cigs will be mostly IFR, and precip may be heavy at times, mainly at RDU/RWI/FAY between 00z and 06z, reducing vsbys at times to LIFR. And just off the surface, we'll have winds from the NE at 25-35 kts above 1500 ft AGL starting early this evening and continuing through 18z Fri, and this may bring challenges in aircraft handling. Improvement to VFR is expected at RDU/RWI/FAY after 09z tonight, and at INT/GSO after 12z, as this storm system moves offshore. Looking beyond 18z Fri, VFR conditions are expected to persist through Sun beneath deep high pressure, although wintry accumulation may linger on the ground through Fri night/Sat morning. The next storm system will arrive Mon, bringing a good chance of sub-VFR conditions with rain Mon through Tue. -GIH && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning from 10 AM this morning to 7 AM EST Friday for NCZ009>011-026>028-043-078. Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 7 AM EST Friday for NCZ007-008-021>025-038>042-073>077-083>086-088-089. && SYNOPSIS...Hartfield NEAR TERM...KC/CBL SHORT TERM...Green LONG TERM...Green AVIATION...Hartfield
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Raleigh NC 455 AM EST Thu Feb 20 2020 NCZ007-008-021>025-038>042-073>077-083>086-088-089-211000- Person-Granville-Forsyth-Guilford-Alamance-Orange-Durham-Davidson- Randolph-Chatham-Wake-Johnston-Stanly-Montgomery-Moore-Lee-Harnett- Anson-Richmond-Scotland-Hoke-Cumberland-Sampson- 455 AM EST Thu Feb 20 2020 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 AM EST FRIDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and 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...Friday through Wednesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Weather Advisory. Adverse travel conditions are expected to linger Friday and Friday night as any melting snow on area roadways and overpasses will re- freeze Friday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. NCZ009>011-026>028-043-078-211000- Vance-Warren-Halifax-Franklin-Nash-Edgecombe-Wilson-Wayne- 455 AM EST Thu Feb 20 2020 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 AM EST FRIDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and 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...Friday through Wednesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Winter Storm Warning. Adverse travel conditions are expected to linger Friday and Friday night as any melting snow on area roadways and overpasses will re- freeze Friday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RALEIGH NC
907 AM EST THU FEB 20 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0846 AM SLEET SOUTHERN PINES 35.18N 79.40W
02/20/2020 E0.0 INCH MOORE NC PUBLIC
TRACE OF SLEET REPORTED IN SOUTHERN PINES.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
20 winter weather, 11 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 1 to 2 inches across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 1 to 2 inches across the county.
Snowfall amounts were around 1 inch across the county.
Snowfall amounts were around 1 inch across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from a trace across southern portions of the county to 1 inch across northern portions of the county.
Snowfall amounts were around 3 inches across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 3 to 4 inches across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 4 inches across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 3 to 5 inches across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 3 to 4 inches across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 3 inches across southern portions of the county to 4 inches across northern portions of the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 3 inches across southern portions of the county to 4 inches across northern portions of the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 4 inches across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 3 inches across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 3 inches across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 3 inches across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 inches across southwestern portions of the county to 3 inches across northeastern portions of the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 1 inches across southern portions of the county to 2 inches across northern portions of the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 1 inches across southern portions of the county to 2 inches across northern portions of the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 1 inches across southern portions of the county to 2 inches across northern portions of the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 1 inches across southwestern portions of the county to 3 inches across northeastern portions of the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 1 to 2 inches across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from a trace across southern portions of the county to 1 inch across northern portions of the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 1 to 3 inches across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 4 inches across the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 inches across southern portions of the county to 4 inches across northern portions of the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 inches across southern portions of the county to 3 inches across northern portions of the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from a trace across southern portions of the county to half an inch across northern portions of the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from a trace across southern portions of the county to around 1 inch across northern portions of the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from around half and inch across southwestern portions of the county to around 1 inch across northeastern portions of the county.
Snowfall amounts ranged from 1 to 2 inches across the county.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, February 2020
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: 878225, 878226, 878227, 878228, 878229, 878242, 875365, 875381, 875384, 878241, 875360, 875364, 875383, 878209, 878210, 878211, 878212, 878220, 878221, 878222, 878223, 878224, 878230, 878239, 875382, 875385, 878238, 878231, 878232, 878233, 878236.