North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia Face High-Impact Winter Storm With Snow, Ice and Dangerous Cold

UNITED STATES — A high-impact winter storm is increasingly likely to affect large portions of the Southeast from Saturday through Sunday, bringing a dangerous combination of heavy snow, crippling ice, freezing rain, and prolonged bitter cold across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia, according to the latest model guidance and probability maps.

Forecasters emphasize that small shifts in the storm track will have major impacts on precipitation type, especially across the Carolinas and northern Georgia, where snow, sleet, and freezing rain boundaries remain highly sensitive.

Three Storm Track Scenarios Could Drastically Change Impacts

Meteorologists are monitoring three primary storm tracks, each producing a different outcome across the Southeast.

Track #1: Colder Solution — Mostly Snow With Some Ice

In this scenario, the surface low remains farther south, allowing cold air to stay locked in place.

• Snow expands farther south into western and central North Carolina
• Mountains and foothills see significant snowfall
• Charlotte metro still sees icy mix, but northern counties may transition to mostly snow
• This track offers the least ice damage risk, but still creates hazardous travel

Track #2: “Glacier Surface” — Snow Changing to Ice

This middle-ground scenario pushes warmer air aloft over shallow cold air at the surface.

• Snow line retreats north toward southern Virginia
• Prolonged sleet and freezing rain develops across North Carolina and South Carolina
• Ice accretion creates a hard, compacted surface that is extremely difficult to treat
• Roads become impassable even with moderate ice amounts

Track #3: Crippling Ice Storm — Freezing Rain Dominates

This is the most dangerous scenario.

• Low pressure tracks farther inland
• Warm air overruns entrenched surface cold air
• Snow is pushed north into Virginia
• North Carolina, South Carolina, and parts of Georgia fall into a freezing-rain bullseye
• High risk for widespread power outages, tree damage, and long-term infrastructure impacts

Snowfall Probabilities Highlight Interior Southeast Risk

Probability maps show a notable chance of at least 6 inches of snow across parts of:

• Eastern Tennessee
• Southwest Virginia
• Northern North Carolina

Several areas show 60–80% probabilities, particularly near higher elevations, while probabilities decrease sharply farther south toward Georgia.

Freezing Rain Threat Highest Across Carolinas and Georgia

Ice probabilities tell a more alarming story.

• 30–55% chance of at least 0.25 inches of freezing rain across central and eastern North Carolina
• 40–50% probabilities extend into parts of South Carolina and northern Georgia
• Even modest ice amounts combined with wind could cause major tree and power-line damage

Bitter Cold and Dangerous Wind Chills Follow the Storm

Beyond precipitation, prolonged cold is a serious concern.

• Temperatures drop into the teens and single digits
• Wind chills fall below zero in some inland locations
• Cold persists for days, significantly slowing ice and snow melt
• Refreezing at night increases accident risk well into next week

Meteorologists caution that wind chills may be far colder than air temperatures, making exposure dangerous in power-outage scenarios.

Power Outages Could Become Life-Threatening

With ice loading trees and power lines, outages are a real possibility.

Residents without safe backup heat are urged to:

• Arrange shelter with family or friends before ice begins
• Locate public warming centers early
• Avoid unsafe heating methods like grills or generators indoors

What Residents Should Do Now

• Monitor updated forecasts closely through the weekend
• Prepare for extended travel disruptions
• Stock emergency supplies, food, water, and medications
• Plan for multi-day power outages
• Check on elderly neighbors and vulnerable individuals

Forecast Confidence and What’s Next

Forecasters are confident precipitation will occur, but exact impacts depend on final storm placement. Additional data over the next 24–36 hours will determine which scenario becomes dominant.

This storm has high upside potential if conditions align — and high consequences if ice becomes widespread.

Stay prepared and keep checking Cabarrusweekly.com for the latest winter storm updates, regional breakdowns, and safety guidance as this Southeast storm approaches.