FORECAST: Winter Storm Watch issued

ABOVE: The latest forecast update from Severe Weather Center 9. To stay on top of changing weather conditions, be sure to download our free WSOC-TV weather app.

A Winter Storm Watch was issued Wednesday afternoon and it will last through Saturday morning.

The watch is for Piedmont and western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina, and portions of northeast Georgia.

Forecast:

“Well we have one more day to get ready, friends!” said Chief Meteorologist John Ahrens on Wednesday afternoon.
Weather conditions will be about the same Thursday before the winter storm arrives on Friday. Not much has changed with the timing as snow should start around noon and pick up into the afternoon hours.
Then, the precipitation will change to a wintry mix by Friday night with ice accumulation possible.

Snowfall projection:

Amounts are highest north of Charlotte where the precipitation remains all snow.
Expect 1 to 2 inches of snow before it changes to sleet and freezing rain.
That mix would likely reduce amounts for the metro with points south seeing even less. These numbers are subject to change.
We will also be watching for the accumulation of ice Friday night, which could add up to one-tenth of an inch with spots near two-tenths.

Impacts:

Snow and ice accumulations will make many roads treacherous and impassable.
The weight of the snow and ice on tree limbs and power lines could produce scattered outages.
The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday morning and evening commutes.

Saturday:

This all clears very quickly Saturday morning, but the damage will be done. Travel conditions will be poor through at least the first half of Saturday.
Sunshine and temperatures above freezing will help by Saturday afternoon.

Here's our current snowfall projection map for Friday. Amounts are highest northbound where the precip remains all snow. A mix of sleet and freezing rain would likely reduce amounts for the metro with points south seeing even less. These numbers are subject to change. Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/B9grcvpvNw
— Keith Monday (@kmondayWSOC9) January 8, 2025

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