Weekend System May Bring Snow to South, North Carolina; Virginia

Linda Lam
Published: January 16,2016
Parts of the South, southern Appalachians and lower mid-Atlantic region may see a little light snow through Sunday, though this won't likely be an event causing crippling travel problems as past January storms have. Some severe thunderstorms are possible in other areas, as well.
A low-pressure system will develop along the Gulf Coast Saturday night. This system will slide east through the South and will push off the East Coast on Sunday.
Below are the details on the current thinking of where snowflakes may fall and where severe weather could develop.

Snowflakes in the South

Given that this is mid-January and another surge of Arctic air will be moving into the East this weekend and into early next week, some snow is on the table in parts of the South.
(MORE: Another Arctic Blast Ahead)
Light snow fell across portions of the southern High Plains on Saturday. Almost 2 inches of snow had fallen just east of Amarillo, Texas. Although most of precipitation across the southern Plains has ended, more is expected to develop across the Deep South into the overnight.
(INTERACTIVE: Current Radar | Winter Weather Alerts)

Saturday Night's Forecast

A bit of wet snow may mix in with rain at times from southern Arkansas into northern Mississippi, northern Alabama and northwestern Georgia later Saturday night.
Surface temperatures are expected to be above freezing for much of the region, therefore, travel impacts are not anticipated.
(FORECAST: Pine Bluff, Arkansas | Tupelo, Mississippi)

Sunday's Forecast

As this system moves east there is the potential for flurries or possibly even some light snow from the southern Appalachians into the Carolinas and southern Virginia Sunday.
The most likely accumulations of an inch or two from this system is expected in the mountains of western North Carolina and southwest Virginia.
(FORECAST: Asheville, North Carolina | Gatlinburg, Tennessee | Banner Elk, North Carolina)
Farther east, there is potential for at least a few wet snowflakes Sunday in parts of central and northern North Carolina into central and southeast Virginia and parts of the Delmarva peninsula, though light rain may be the dominant precipitation type.

Thunderstorm Threat

The chance for showers and thunderstorms from this system will be found along the immediate Gulf Coast from Louisiana through southern Mississippi into southern Alabama. Severe thunderstorms may develop in central and southern Florida after midnight.
(MORE: Sunday Tornado Threat in Florida)
A cold front associated with the area of low pressure will push through the Southeast on Sunday. Thunderstorms are likely to continue moving through central and southern Florida where a few severe thunderstorms are possible during the morning. Elsewhere, showers are expected from the Florida Panhandle into southeastern Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
Dry conditions will return to the Southeast by Sunday night.
MORE: Winter Storm Hera (PHOTOS)