Main Winter Storm Brings Hazardous Travel and Energy Outage Potential This Weekend into Begin of Next Week

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – A significant winter storm takes goal on the Carolinas and Georgia this weekend, prompting a Winter Storm Watch for all the area from Saturday morning by early Monday afternoon.

This First Alert Weather Day for Saturday and Sunday brings heavy combined precipitation — together with freezing rain, sleet, and snow — creating hazardous journey situations and threatening prolonged energy outages. Monday can be a First Alert Weather Day for the potential of icy roads and dangerous journey to proceed, because of under freezing temperatures Sunday into Monday creating refreeze potential.

Rain Continues Through Friday

Scattered mild rain continues primarily south of I-85 by tonight. High elevations may even see transient wintry climate early Thursday morning, however vital accumulations stay unlikely. Highs are within the low to mid 50s with lows in a single day dipping into the mid 30s to the low 40s.

Friday brings lowering bathe probabilities all through the day, although some areas of fog are potential early to mid morning. It’s nonetheless all rain for the Western Carolinas on Friday with highs within the mid to higher 40s.

Winter Storm Watch in impact: 7 AM Saturday by 1 PM Monday

The winter storm system arrives Saturday, an remoted wintry bathe is feasible within the morning. Although, precipitation picks up into the night by 4 or 5 p.m. continued into Sunday.

The forecast has trended towards better impacts from ice and sleet, with much less influence from snow in comparison with earlier forecasts.

Most Likely Timing:

• Wintry precipitation onset: Saturday morning by early afternoon (timing topic to alter)

• Peak depth: Saturday evening by Sunday morning — the quickest charges of accumulation happen throughout this window

• End timing: Sunday night by Monday morning

Ice and sleet emerge because the dominant precipitation sorts for many of the area south of I-40, with freezing rain creating significantly treacherous situations. Some areas west of I-26 and in northeast Georgia may even see precipitation briefly change to rain late Sunday, although confidence on this stays low.

Expected Impacts: Widespread and Severe

Significant ice accumulation coats energy strains and tree limbs, inflicting widespread and long-lasting energy outages that reach into early subsequent week. Impassable and treacherous ice and snow-covered roadways final by the start of subsequent week, making journey extraordinarily harmful.

Here’s what we’re anticipating throughout the area from Saturday morning by Monday morning:

South of I-40 (Upstate, Southern Mountains & Georgia): Most areas see vital ice accumulation. Most areas see ice constructing as much as a minimum of 1 / 4 inch. In the Upstate, there’s a 40% likelihood ice accumulations attain half an inch or extra, which might create harmful journey and main energy outages. We do have a 50% of a minimum of 1″ of snow or sleet accumulation.

North of I-40: Snow becomes more likely here. There’s a 40% chance we see snow or sleet in the Upstate.

The exact amounts of snow versus sleet versus ice remain uncertain. The transition zone between precipitation types continues to shift, and this critical line determines final accumulations. Confidence remains relatively low on specific amounts until the system draws closer.

Preparation Starts Now — Don’t Wait

The First Alert Weather Team urges you to consider delaying all travel until after road conditions improve. Prepare your home and vehicle right now:

• Stock your car with an emergency kit
• Fill your gas tank and fuel any generators or heating sources
• Keep generators at least 20 feet away from doors and windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
• Gather non-perishable food, water, and medications for at least three days
• Charge phones and devices to receive weather alerts from the First Alert Weather Team
• Collect warm clothing and blankets
• Don’t forget supplies for pets

If we see power outages lasting days that mean no heat, no refrigeration, and no way to charge devices. Act today.

Dangerously Cold Arrives Monday Night

The winter storm departs Sunday night, but the cold intensifies dramatically. Dangerously cold wind chills develop Monday night into Tuesday morning, with readings below zero to the single digits in the mountains and teens across most of the Upstate. Some locations north of I-40 experience single-digit wind chills.

These extreme conditions create serious health risks. Hypothermia and frostbite develop quickly with prolonged exposure. Extended power outages compound the danger, making warm clothing and blankets essential. Never burn propane, gasoline, or other fuels indoors — this creates fire hazards and carbon monoxide poisoning risks.

Cold temperatures next week extend the threat for hazardous travel and impacts from power outages. This is why we have declared Monday a First Alert Weather Day and will adjust accordingly. Prepare for Monday morning to still bring impacts to the roads. Temperatures look to range from teens into the 20s Monday morning.

Snow and ice linger through early next week, slowing recovery efforts for road clearing and power restoration.

What’s Next

Upgrades to Winter Storm Warning or Winter Weather Advisory are not likely until Thursday afternoon at the soonest. We continue monitoring model trends closely, and accumulation probabilities and timing details remain subject to change as the system approaches.

Stay Alert to First Alert Weather

First Alert Weather Day’s for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Impacts from this winter storm affect travel, power, and safety across the entire region. Stay with us for continuous updates as this system approaches. Check back frequently for the latest accumulation forecasts, timing details, and safety information.

First Alert means we’re first to warn you. We’re tracking this system closely and updating forecasts with each new model run. Don’t miss critical updates — download our weather app and enable push notifications now.

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