Next Arctic Blast - Rain Followed By Snow

Our next cold front likely stronger than the last

We will enjoy just a slight moderation in temperatures this afternoon as highs warm into the lower 40's. Even better, skies will continue sunny to partly cloudy for our Saturday with light winds expected.

Cloud cover and light rain arrive Sunday

Clouds will quickly increase Saturday night and Sunday with light rain expected to hold off until late in the day. Despite the clouds, temperatures will be slightly warmer Sunday afternoon and Sunday night as southerly winds help to push temperatures in to the middle and upper 40's by the afternoon hours. Some good news ... Temperatures will not fall much Sunday night, holding well above freezing with lows in the 40's. Precipitation will continue to fall only as rain, even in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina.

Rain eventually changes to snow before ending 

Rain will continue through the day Monday, and possibly heavy at times, with a 1/2" to 3/4" of rainfall expected. Temperatures will hold near 50 degrees through the early afternoon hours, even across the mountains of North Carolina. When will the cold air arrive? We turn sharply colder late Monday afternoon with rain quickly changing to snow late Monday afternoon or Monday evening with the exact timing still uncertain. 

Developing storm moves quickly and leaves only minor accumulations

Nine times out of ten, when a low pressure system emerges out of the Gulf of Mexico, it doesn't strengthen quickly enough to have a meaningful impact on the Tri-Cities. This will once again be the case. Only a dusting to an inch of snow will be possible Monday night in the Tri-Cities with one to three inches possible across the mountains (on average). The storm will rapidly strengthen as it moves past our area leaving several inches of heavy wet snow and dangerous traveling conditions across parts of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York.