North Carolina Hit by Historic Winter Storm with Bomb Cyclone and Sub-Zero Temperatures

Historic Winter Storm Impacts North Carolina

• ❄️ A powerful Nor'easter has intensified into a bomb cyclone off the Carolinas, bringing heavy snow, hurricane-force winds, and blizzard conditions.
• ⚠️ The storm is considered a rare and historic winter emergency for the southeastern US, impacting areas unaccustomed to such severe weather.

Snowfall and Accumulation Estimates

• 🌨️ While Raleigh experienced less snow due to drier air, areas like Greenville, NC, are predicting 3 to 8 inches.
• 🌊 The Outer Banks are expected to see the largest accumulations, potentially reaching a foot of snow, an event not seen in some locations in the 21st century.
• 🥶 Many parts of North Carolina are under an extreme cold warning, with temperatures expected to plunge below zero, the coldest in decades.

Storm Dynamics and Conditions

• 💨 The storm's intensity is driven by the interaction between a trough solidifying cold air to the west and the bomb cyclone (area of low pressure) off the Atlantic coast.
• 🌬️ Intense wind gusts, reaching hurricane force winds for the coast and up to 40 mph in Greenville, are creating blizzard-like conditions with powdery snow.
• 🚗 Travel is not recommended due to slick roads and dangerous conditions, with some areas experiencing blizzard warnings for the first time.

Snow-to-Liquid Ratio

• 🔬 The snow has a high 15-to-1 snow-to-liquid ratio, meaning 1 inch of precipitable water equates to 15 inches of snow.
• 💧 With about half an inch of precipitable water in the atmosphere, significant snow accumulation is expected in affected zones.