Freezing Rain Still Possible In OC, But Not Much

CHAPEL HILL – A freezing rain advisory remains in effect for Orange, Chatham and Durham counties until 7:00 p.m. Sunday, but meteorologists now say it’s not likely we’ll see much.

National Weather Service meteorologist Brandon Locklear says to expect a bit of freezing rain in the area sometime between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., turning into rain later in the afternoon as the temperature rises.

Earlier forecasts had called for as much as a quarter inch of freezing rain, but Locklear says the actual accumulation will be minimal.

Still, even a small amount of freezing rain can cause slick road conditions, so forecasters are reminding drivers to take extra precaution when on the roads on Sunday.

Freezing Rain Likely Sunday Morning

CHAPEL HILL – Get ready for a shot of winter weather: the National Weather Service has issued a Freezing Rain Advisory for the Triangle on Sunday from 4:00 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening, with steady precipitation and temperatures dropping to the low 30s.

“By around daybreak, maybe an hour or two before daybreak, we’ll see temperatures right around the freezing mark,” says NWS meteorologist Brandon Locklear, “and we could have a period of freezing rain Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon.”

Depending on how long it lasts before temperatures climb back above freezing, Locklear says that could result in “as much as a tenth to a quarter of an inch of ice,” with more sustained accumulation further to the west near Greensboro.

“The further south and east that you live, you’re likely to see less (accumulation),” he says. “In the Chapel Hill area, you could be in the clear as early as 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon on Sunday.”

Freezing Rain Possible In The Triangle Thursday Night And Friday Morning

RALEIGH – The National Weather Service is keeping an eye on a storm system that could bring more frozen precipitation to the Triangle area at the end of this week.

Of course the greatest concern will be for commuters Friday morning.

Sharp says the system is still a ways off with time for the forecast to change. But as of now, it looks like another Friday could be affected by cold temperatures and potentially harmful weather. The good news is that is isn’t expected to last long.

“We are monitoring a storm system out in the southern Rockies that will be approaching the southeast US late Thursday into Thursday night and Friday,” Sharp says. “It looks like the precip (will begin) during the overnight hours Thursday into Friday morning.”

Stay tuned to WCHL and Chapelboro.com as the storm approaches. We’ll continue to bring you up to the minute forecasts of the winter weather expected in the area.

Click here for the current Chapel Hill forecast.