UPDATE: Tornado Warning expires for Montgomery County.TRACKING SEVERE WEATHERA massive storm system will slam the South on Tuesday. The storm has reached the Carolinas and has continued to intensify through the afternoon, producing heavy downpours, strong winds, and severe thunderstorms across North Carolina and Virginia. The mountains started with freezing rain Tuesday morning, which created slick travel until late morning.►Storm Blog: Get the latest real-time storm updates as they happen throughout the night and also local impacts. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY has been issued for Alleghany, Ashe, and Watauga Counties until 10:00 a.m. Tuesday. The storm is expected to begin as a wintry mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet Tuesday before a changeover to heavy rain.A FLOOD WATCH has been issued for the Triad and Foothills continuing through late Tuesday night. The storm is expected to produce one to four inches of rain. The heavy rain may cause creek and river flooding as well as localized flooding in urban areas.►Live Radar: Check what’s happening in your neighborhood as flooding remains a concern.A HIGH WIND WARNING has been issued for Alleghany, Ashe, Grayson (Va.), and Watauga Counties until 7 p.m. Tuesday. Winds of 20-30 mph are expected with peak gusts of 50-60 mph expected.►Download the Very Local app for updates on the stormA WIND ADVISORY has been issued for Alamance, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, and Randolph Counties until 10 p.m. Tuesday, for peak gusts up to 45 mph.Winds will be strong regardless of storms. Frequent soaking rains have saturated the ground making it easier for strong gusts to knock down trees and cause power outages.IMPACT DAYTuesday, January 9 is a WXII12 First Warning Weather Impact Day as rain is expected to continue. Please plan to check weather alerts and radar on your WXII12 News App before traveling.►Check out live skycams across the Piedmont Triad. EXCESSIVE RAINFALL RISKWe are at a slight risk or level 2 for excessive rainfall that may cause flooding later Tuesday from Boone to Burlington. Many areas of North Carolina are also in the risk area including Asheville, Charlotte, and Raleigh. Thunderstorms are also possible and are expected to enhance rainfall totals. Torrential downpours may bring up to two to four inches of rainfall. Even higher totals are possible as thunderstorms rumble over the Foothills and Piedmont Triad through early evening Tuesday. There is a risk for damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes on Tuesday afternoon through early evening in the Piedmont Triad.► Live Road Conditions: Check out travel alerts before hitting the roadFLOODING CONCERNSFlooding of creeks and streams as well as flash flooding in the Mountains, Foothills, and Piedmont Triad may develop. River flooding may also become a concern. Please heed flood warnings and never attempt to drive on flooded roads.Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.TIMING Tuesday Afternoon: Warmer temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s are likely as the storm system lifts into North Carolina with warmer air. Heavy to moderate waves of rain may fall over the Mountains, Foothills, and Piedmont Triad with the risk of wet roads and localized flooding. Isolated severe storms are also possible in the Piedmont Triad. There is a risk for straight-line damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. Travel may become hazardous due to water ponding on roadways and trees that may block roads during strong winds.Tuesday Evening Commute: Hydroplaning conditions continue through early Tuesday evening. Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible, especially in the eastern Triad. Flooding of streams, creeks, and rivers is likely as reservoirs may have already reached capacity.Why Do We Expect So Much Rain?We are in an El Niño-Southern Oscillation phase of a climate pattern that typically brings an increased chance for a wet winter. This winter season has had jet stream flow that has allowed a conveyor belt of storms originating in the Pacific northwest to flow into the Carolinas. The storms have also combined with copious amounts of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. This is an example of how the strong El Niño climate pattern is impacting our winter weather. Intense moisture transport from the Gulf of Mexico is likely again Tuesday, January 9. In addition, an upper-level low pressure system will dive into the right position over the Southeast late Monday while a surface warm front begins lifting north. A ridge of high pressure over the Atlantic will also help to pump ocean moisture into central North Carolina and Virginia by Tuesday morning. Thunderstorms may also enhance rainfall totals. Torrential downpours may bring more than two to three inches of rainfall by the end of the event Tuesday night. Even higher totals are possible as thunderstorms rumble over the Foothills and Piedmont Triad. WHERE to MONITOR RIVER LEVELS and RAINFALL TOTALSOf course, check out WXII12.com/radar and adjust the layers to find your desired storm information and the latest weather alerts.The National Weather Service offers a quick view of area streams, creeks, and river rises on the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service link for North Carolina and Virginia. Once you click on the link below, choose a point on the map that is near your location to monitor local water levels:LocalNCVARiverLevelsThe North Carolina State Climate Office also has a suite of products available to residents interested in finding out nearby temperatures and rainfall totals. Click on the link below to explore your location or other cities in North Carolina:NCStateClimateOfficeWeatherStationScoutCommunity Collaborative Rain,Hail, Snow Network or CocoRahs:CoCoRahs Regional Rainfall TotalsMore weather coverage: Weather Alerts | Closing and delays | Latest weather forecast | Post pictures to the uLocal North Carolina Facebook Group | Traffic information | Report closings and delays | SkyCams | Download the WXII12 News mobile app
UPDATE: Tornado Warning expires for Montgomery County.
TRACKING SEVERE WEATHER
A massive storm system will slam the South on Tuesday. The storm has reached the Carolinas and has continued to intensify through the afternoon, producing heavy downpours, strong winds, and severe thunderstorms across North Carolina and Virginia. The mountains started with freezing rain Tuesday morning, which created slick travel until late morning.
►Storm Blog: Get the latest real-time storm updates as they happen throughout the night and also local impacts.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY has been issued for Alleghany, Ashe, and Watauga Counties until 10:00 a.m. Tuesday. The storm is expected to begin as a wintry mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet Tuesday before a changeover to heavy rain.
A FLOOD WATCH has been issued for the Triad and Foothills continuing through late Tuesday night. The storm is expected to produce one to four inches of rain. The heavy rain may cause creek and river flooding as well as localized flooding in urban areas.
►Live Radar: Check what’s happening in your neighborhood as flooding remains a concern.
A HIGH WIND WARNING has been issued for Alleghany, Ashe, Grayson (Va.), and Watauga Counties until 7 p.m. Tuesday. Winds of 20-30 mph are expected with peak gusts of 50-60 mph expected.
►Download the Very Local app for updates on the storm
A WIND ADVISORY has been issued for Alamance, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, and Randolph Counties until 10 p.m. Tuesday, for peak gusts up to 45 mph.
Winds will be strong regardless of storms. Frequent soaking rains have saturated the ground making it easier for strong gusts to knock down trees and cause power outages.
IMPACT DAY
Tuesday, January 9 is a WXII12 First Warning Weather Impact Day as rain is expected to continue. Please plan to check weather alerts and radar on your WXII12 News App before traveling.
►Check out live skycams across the Piedmont Triad.
EXCESSIVE RAINFALL RISK
We are at a slight risk or level 2 for excessive rainfall that may cause flooding later Tuesday from Boone to Burlington. Many areas of North Carolina are also in the risk area including Asheville, Charlotte, and Raleigh. Thunderstorms are also possible and are expected to enhance rainfall totals. Torrential downpours may bring up to two to four inches of rainfall. Even higher totals are possible as thunderstorms rumble over the Foothills and Piedmont Triad through early evening Tuesday. There is a risk for damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes on Tuesday afternoon through early evening in the Piedmont Triad.
► Live Road Conditions: Check out travel alerts before hitting the road
FLOODING CONCERNS
Flooding of creeks and streams as well as flash flooding in the Mountains, Foothills, and Piedmont Triad may develop. River flooding may also become a concern. Please heed flood warnings and never attempt to drive on flooded roads.
Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.
TIMING
Tuesday Afternoon: Warmer temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s are likely as the storm system lifts into North Carolina with warmer air. Heavy to moderate waves of rain may fall over the Mountains, Foothills, and Piedmont Triad with the risk of wet roads and localized flooding. Isolated severe storms are also possible in the Piedmont Triad. There is a risk for straight-line damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. Travel may become hazardous due to water ponding on roadways and trees that may block roads during strong winds.
Tuesday Evening Commute: Hydroplaning conditions continue through early Tuesday evening. Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible, especially in the eastern Triad. Flooding of streams, creeks, and rivers is likely as reservoirs may have already reached capacity.
Why Do We Expect So Much Rain?
We are in an El Niño-Southern Oscillation phase of a climate pattern that typically brings an increased chance for a wet winter. This winter season has had jet stream flow that has allowed a conveyor belt of storms originating in the Pacific northwest to flow into the Carolinas. The storms have also combined with copious amounts of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. This is an example of how the strong El Niño climate pattern is impacting our winter weather. Intense moisture transport from the Gulf of Mexico is likely again Tuesday, January 9. In addition, an upper-level low pressure system will dive into the right position over the Southeast late Monday while a surface warm front begins lifting north. A ridge of high pressure over the Atlantic will also help to pump ocean moisture into central North Carolina and Virginia by Tuesday morning. Thunderstorms may also enhance rainfall totals. Torrential downpours may bring more than two to three inches of rainfall by the end of the event Tuesday night. Even higher totals are possible as thunderstorms rumble over the Foothills and Piedmont Triad.
WHERE to MONITOR RIVER LEVELS and RAINFALL TOTALS
Of course, check out WXII12.com/radar and adjust the layers to find your desired storm information and the latest weather alerts.
The National Weather Service offers a quick view of area streams, creeks, and river rises on the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service link for North Carolina and Virginia. Once you click on the link below, choose a point on the map that is near your location to monitor local water levels:
LocalNCVARiverLevels
The North Carolina State Climate Office also has a suite of products available to residents interested in finding out nearby temperatures and rainfall totals. Click on the link below to explore your location or other cities in North Carolina:
NCStateClimateOfficeWeatherStationScout
Community Collaborative Rain,Hail, Snow Network or CocoRahs:
CoCoRahs Regional Rainfall Totals
More weather coverage: Weather Alerts | Closing and delays | Latest weather forecast | Post pictures to the uLocal North Carolina Facebook Group | Traffic information | Report closings and delays | SkyCams | Download the WXII12 News mobile app