Winter Comes to Southern Appalachians

Winter Storm Warnings are in effect today and tonight for an area from east-central Mississippi through northern Georgia, much of western North Carolina, most of Virginia and Maryland.

Warnings and advisories in effect as of 11:00 a.m. EST January 17.
Pink areas designate Winter Storm Warnings, violet areas designate Winter Weather Advisories

Surface map at 7:00 a.m. EST January 17.

A low pressure system centered over northern Georgia will move east-northeast today. As cold air comes in behind this system rain will change to snow, and in some areas, freezing rain. The potential for the heaviest snow is in the mountains of eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and southwestern Virgina.

Probability of at least 4 inches of snow (left) and 8 inches of snow (right)
for the 24 hour period ending 7:00 EST Friday, January 18.

The good news is that high temperatures the next few days will be well above freezing and much of the snow will melt by early next week.

Maximum temperature forecast for Sunday, January 20.