A winter storm warning is now in effect for most of central North Carolina, including the Roanoke Rapids area.

A winter weather advisory is in effect for Wayne, Sampson, and Cumberland counties.

The National Weather Service said in its latest briefing that a slight westward nudge in the heaviest ice accumulations have been made. “It now looks like the heaviest sleet and/or ice and greatest impacts will be across the Piedmont of central NC — along and west of the US-1 corridor — and that fits well with climatology and where the heaviest ice typically occurs with these types of storm systems.”

Temperatures are now forecast to rise through the day and evening Sunday, in advance of the last batch of precipitation and an associated cold front. It may be warm enough that when that last batch of precipitation moves through late Sunday evening and/or Sunday night after midnight, it could be warm enough for just rain across much of central NC, perhaps as far north as the Triangle region. 

Temperatures across the Triad region and areas north of the I-85 corridor will likely remain below freezing even Sunday night. 

Primary timeline: Mixed precipitation is expected to begin Saturday night (earlier Saturday afternoon in the northwest Piedmont) and continue through Monday morning.

Anticipated Hazards

Ice and sleet: Significant accumulations of freezing rain and sleet are the primary threats, particularly across the Piedmont. Heavy ice could cause widespread and long-lasting power outages and significant tree damage.

Dangerous travel: Road conditions, especially on bridges and overpasses, will become slick and hazardous starting Saturday evening and persisting through Monday night.

Bitter cold: Following the storm, temperatures will plummet.