In planning for the coming weekend, Chapel Hill residents should be prepared for rapidly dropping temperatures and a considerable chance of snow and freezing rain.

In a surprising shift, seeing as Chapel Hill’s high temperatures over the past weeks have hovered around highs in the mid-sixties and lows in the mid-to-high forties, temperatures tomorrow are expected to plummet below freezing over the course of Friday and Saturday.

The chance of precipitation currently stands at 90 percent for Friday and 60 percent for Saturday according to local forecasts, with potential precipitation currently projected around two to three inches total. With freezing rain in the mix, inclement weather will be worth considering as you plan your second weekend in December.

Rain is predicted to begin falling around 2 a.m. on Friday. Temperatures in the low forties will prevent freezing during the day, but intermittent rain throughout the day may ice up overnight – especially as snowfall supposedly begins Saturday morning at 5 a.m. and continues until noon. A forecasted dip into the twenties on Sunday night could solidify any snow that sticks, and Monday morning commuters should be especially wary of slick spots on the road.

Governor Roy Cooper also declared this week Winter Weather Preparedness Week. Orange County Emergency Services shared tips to prepare for the possibility of inclement weather:

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