Weekend Forecast Up in the Air for Charlotte Region as Storm Shifts North

A major winter storm is expected to cripple nearly half the country this weekend, as dangerous ice and snow will stretch all the way from Texas to New England. What exactly happens, and where, is still a bit of a mystery.

For the greater Charlotte area, extremely cold temperatures are certain. But snow... that seems less likely now. However, a Winter Storm Watch has been issued for the region, effective from 7 a.m. Saturday to 1 p.m. Monday.

The setup has a huge high-pressure system coming down from Canada. It's holding all the cold air that will blanket much of the country. While that happens, there's a giant moisture system coming east from the Pacific. It's holding all of the precipitation that's going to run into that cold air.

Where and when that collision happens is going to impact what anybody sees from it.

Overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, the consensus weather models made a huge shift for where most of this was going to happen - and it was a huge shift North. Not good if you were hopeful for an all-snow event here in Charlotte. There's sure to be more shifting, as we're still a few days out, but for now, here's the thought:

The moisture coming from the Pacific is moving faster than originally thought. That's pushing the biggest snow portions of the storm further north.

That puts Charlotte in a battleground area between snow, freezing rain and sleet. In a best-case scenario it will be mostly sleet. But that's looking less likely. Worst-case scenario has a blanket of freezing rain across the region. That will drastically increase the chances of power outages and hazardous road conditions.

What is certain is the entire area will be cold this weekend. The National Weather Service has temperatures at our below freezing at best Saturday and Sunday. If the moisture tracks through the area, that will continue to create hazardous conditions.

We'll keep an eye on track shifts in the coming days, as much can change still. But now is a good time to be prepared with supplies in case there are extended power outages. Make sure you are preparing for warmth in your homes, batteries, and food and water supplies. It's not time to panic and empty the stores, but it is time to prepare.