Winter storm still possible next week

The computer models continue their consistent forecast of a winter storm next Tuesday and Wednesday for the Charlotte region.

There are still the same questions that make a forecast anything but certain. However, when the models are this consistent (over a period of several days), it's safe to say that something's up. The problem is that we don't know whether it'll be snow, sleet, freezing rain, or rain.

Or it could be all of the four.

While it's still possible that the storm system delivers a heavy snowfall, it appears as if most of the computer model runs (the models update every six hours) persistently portray a situation with sleet and/or freezing rain. But with temperatures very close to freezing, this also could turn into a storm that delivers a bit of sleet and freezing rain before turning to a cold rain.

The big issue remains the strength and position of high pressure to our north.  That system is expected to push its way down the East Coast on Monday. If it remains strong enough to pump cold air into the Charlotte region, the low pressure system will bring frozen precipitation when it arrives. If the high pressure system moves off the Northeast coast, then temperatures in the area might recover above freezing.

WCNC-TV chief meteorologist Brad Panovich posted a note on Facebook earlier Friday, warning people not to believe in either extreme -- that a huge snowstorm is coming, or that we're facing an ice storm like that of December 2002.  It was great advice, as it's too early to tell.

But there could be weather news in Charlotte next week.  We'll keep things updated over the weekend.