Monday, February 13, 2012

Snow in part of South, but not for us

In a mild winter like the one we're experiencing, even the mention of "snow" is a big deal.

Snow is falling in parts of the South today. More is expected tonight. But it won't happen in the Charlotte region.

There are several reasons, but the biggest is timing. A low pressure system which is causing the inclement weather across parts of the Mid-South today will not reach the Charlotte area until after daybreak Tuesday. By that time, temperatures are expected to be several degrees above freezing.

Anything that falls will fall as rain.

But it's the closest call so far this winter -- a winter which seems headed for a spot in the record books among the all-time mildest.

Before the weekend cold snap, Charlotte was on pace for one of the five mildest winters on record. In fact, it's been that way across nearly all the eastern half of the United States. There hasn't even been a trace of wintry precipitation in Charlotte.

A low pressure system is moving eastward out of Texas. Winter storm warnings are posted in parts of Arkansas, and a wide swath of the South -- from near Memphis, across northern Louisiana, northern Mississippi, northern Alabama, northwest Georgia, and parts of Tennessee -- are under winter weather advisories.

About an inch or two of snow and sleet are expected in that corridor later today.

In addition, a winter weather advisory has been posted by the local National Weather Service office (in Greer, S.C.) for parts of northeast Georgia and southwest North Carolina for tonight. An inch of snow and sleet is possible in that area, which includes Bryson City, Franklin and Sylva.

Rodney Hinson, of the Weather Service's office in Greer, said it's possible that a bit of sleet could fall briefly to the west of Charlotte -- we're talking about Shelby, Lincolnton and Morganton -- when the precipitation starts there around daybreak Tuesday.

But in Charlotte, temperatures are expected to be a couple degrees above freezing when the precipitation arrives.

Two other factors are working against the possibility of snow or sleet in Charlotte.

The strong high pressure system responsible for our cold weekend weather has pumped very, very dry air into the western Carolinas. It will take a long time Tuesday for precipitation to moisten the atmosphere and reach the ground. If the atmosphere weren't so dry, the precipitation would start earlier -- when temperatures were colder.

In addition, the storm system is forecast to weaken as it moves toward the Carolinas. Precipitation will be lighter when it reaches the Charlotte area.

And after Tuesday morning, a milder trend will take command for the rest of the week.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

why all the talk about the mild winter we've had... didn't we "pay it forward" last year?

TC said...

Love to see Charlotte get a three-foot snowfall like we got in Philadelphia back in 1996.....folks in Charlotte have a coronary over half an inch of snow,wonder what they would do with three feet........

Anonymous said...

TC,
we had a 3 foot snowfall in the spring of '94 so poo on you.

KMAL said...

Having moved here from Upstate NY, where a foot of snow wasn't even news, I have to admit that I miss the white stuff a little; however, I'd NEVER move back. I like snow on a Friday and have it all melted by Monday.

Anonymous said...

BRB - heading to the Harris Teeter to get bread, eggs and milk since we will be having a potential blizzard for 10 minutes tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

Against all odds - WCNC's Brad Panicovich will still find a way of predicting snow overnight.

Anonymous said...

Man, you can sure tell the Yankees can't ya? Quit bragging about where you moved from and how much snow you've seen compared to here. There must be a reason you live in Charlotte now, right? Oh, please..... don't tell me you moved here to work for a bank? lol You did get a "Snow Job"

Anonymous said...

@ Anonymous at 3:31pm,

Actually I just checked the history for 1994 and there is no record of even a trace of snowfall that year. The record amount of snowfall for Charlotte is only 15" (at any time), so poo on you.

Anonymous said...

SIGH.......I have missed winter. I would love to see even a little flurry pass by. I'm dreading what this summer will be like considering how mild the winter has been. Another gardening year gone to pot I imagine!

Anonymous said...

We actually get our best snowfalls when the surface temp is in the 36-38 degree range. Don't know why just from 58 years experience living in the area.

Anonymous said...

TC - what would Philly do with damage from a Hurricane like Hugo, Loot,Loot, Loot and Loot some more

Anonymous said...

I think the poster was thinking 04 when we got 14-17 inches around the region!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Against all odds - WCNC's Brad Panicovich will still find a way of predicting snow overnight.

According to him, next Monday will see a high of 47 degrees while everyone else (weather channel, etc.) is calling for 60's.

Anonymous said...

It's not only Brad, its all of them. WBTV...said the other day, "Snow in the Forecast, Details at 11". They have to do something to get you to watch. I like them seeing explain why there is no snow..soooooooo funny!

Anonymous said...

I'd be a yankee over a redneck any day of the week!