Key MESSAGE 1, A period of extreme cold will begin come sunset tonight as an Arctic airmass settles over the Carolinas. Strong CAA will continue overnight with winds gusting to 40-50 mph along the Outer Banks, and 30-40 mph elsewhere. These winds will quickly bring in sub- freezing temperatures, and many places, especially across northern NC, will see steady, and maybe even falling temps, as early as this afternoon.
Temperatures will fall sharply this evening after sunset. Wind chill values will approach 0 across NE NC, and 5-10 degrees for the rest of Eastern NC overnight. Extreme Cold Warnings remain in effect for far NEern zones, with ColdWx Advisories for all remaining zones. Low temps will reach the mid teens, which will be close to record lows..see CLIMATE section below for more details.
More of the same expected Sunday, though with less wind. Maxts ranging from the low 30s across NE NC to the upper 30s SW of US 70. Cold Weather Advisory criteria will (Temp or Wind Chill AoB 14deg) be met through mid-morning before starting to warm from SW to NE. Nobx may be well within criteria the entire day SUN.
The strong northwest winds will bring elevated waters levels on the soundside Hatteras and Ocracoke Island, generally on the order of 1-2 ft with only minor impacts expected.
18z Saturday through Thursday VFR conditions will prevail through Sunday. Strong NW winds will with gusts up to 25-35+ knots continue this afternoon, then will slowly diminish through the evening. Cross winds may be a concern at ISO and EWN runway 4R/22L this afternoon.
Outlook: Predominantly VFR through early next week as high pressure builds in. A series of weather systems will move across the area mid to late week that may bring periods of sub-VFR conditions.
Strong winds expected behind an Arctic front which passed through area waters earlier this morning. Gale warnings are in effect for all area waters.
Winds will continue to increase to NW 25-35 kts with gusts 40-45 kts, peaking tonight, then beginning to subside slowly overnight into tomorrow morning. Winds are forecast to drop below Gale Force completely by tomorrow afternoon. Buoy data shows seas currently 7-11 ft @6-9sec, continuing to increase to 8-12 ft by this evening and then slowly laying down through SUN.
Freezing spray will develop over the colder sounds and coastal waters north of Cape Hatteras tonight due to the combination of strong winds and cold air and sea surface temperatures. Freezing spray will be most hazardous to vessels across the Albemarle Sound (and adjacent waters including the Alligator River, Croatan/Roanoke Sounds) and the coastal waters north of Oregon Inlet due to water temps into the mid to upper 30s, and here a Freezing Spray Advisory has been issued.
Outlook: Winds will continue to improve Monday, though lingering seas will keep Small Craft conditions over the coastal waters through the afternoon. Light NW and then W winds expected through Wednesday night when winds increase out of the NW behind the next cold front.
Nc, cold weather advisory until 10 am EST Sunday for ncz029. Cold weather advisory from 6 pm this evening to 10 am EST Sunday for ncz044-079-080-090>092-094-193>196-198-199. Extreme cold warning from 6 pm this evening to noon EST Sunday for ncz045>047-081-203. Wind advisory until 4 am EST Sunday for ncz196-203>205. Coastal flood advisory until 10 am EST Sunday for ncz204-205. Extreme cold warning from 10 pm this evening to 10 am EST Sunday for ncz204-205. Marine, gale warning until 11 am EST Sunday for amz131-230-231. Freezing spray advisory from 5 pm this afternoon to noon EST Sunday for amz131-150-230-231. Gale warning until 1 pm EST Sunday for amz135-150-152-154-156. Gale warning until 1 am EST Sunday for amz136-137. Gale warning until 4 am EST Sunday for amz158.
