RALEIGH
Any dashing that Santa Claus - or anyone else - has in mind for northwestern North Carolina might turn into slipping and sliding instead.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the region effective for Christmas Eve through Friday morning.
Forecasters say heavy icing is possible late Thursday and early Friday as a strong low pressure system combines with a warm front to produce up to one-half inch of ice over northwestern North Carolina. Meteorologists expect temperatures to remain below freezing, which could lead to icy conditions.
The weather service has issued an ice storm warning for Ashe, Alleghany, Surry, Watauga and Wilkes counties that runs from 9 p.m. tonight through noon Christmas Day. Freezing rain is expected to begin falling Thursday night, with as much as a quarter of an inch of ice accumulation possible. Most of the heaviest ice will occur along the Blue Ridge Mountains. The ice will be heavy enough that it could bring down tree limbs and power lines. Road temperartures are expected to be cold enough to become icy.
A freezing rain advisory will be in effect during the same time period for Stokes and Yadkin counties. Ice accumulation of a tenth of an inch is possible.
In Forsyth, freezing rain is possible early Thursday, but the duration is expected to be so short that it should not bring much acculuation of ice. But drivers should be aware that there could be icy patches on the roadways, the weather service said.
The Christmas Day forecast for Winston-Salem calls for a 100 percent chance of rain or freezing rain, with a high of 46 degrees.
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