Winter Weather Awareness Week starts Monday

Although winter doesn’t officially begin until December 22, Monday is the start of winter weather awareness week.

Winter storms can bring major changes, sometimes in a short period of time, which is why it’s important to understand the different kinds of winter weather we can get here in the Carolinas.

Winter storms result from a variety of weather patterns. Here in the Carolinas we are often sit between cold air to the north and warm, moist here to the south. And it’s the timing of the cold air that dictates whether we get snow, sleet or just a cold rain.

There are two common features that create winter storms here in the Carolinas, noreasters and cold air damming. Noreasters are low pressure systems that develop over the ocean and track northeast up the coast.

They can cause coastal flooding, coastal erosion, gale force winds, and heavy snow. These systems are popular in our area because of how close we are to the Gulf Stream.

Cold air damming, also known as cad, can also create winter weather here in the Carolinas. CAD occurs when a cold high pressure system develops off to the north and creates north/northeast winds across the region.

The cold air then piles up on the east side of the Appalachians. When warm, moist air coming up from the south overruns the cold air at the surface, freezing rain, sleet and snow can occur. Cold air damming typically only affects the central and western Carolinas.

Both of these storm systems can create dangerous conditions, so make sure you and your family are ready for what this winter may hold.