Big coastal storm developing: weekend Carolina snow

A weekend full of wintry trouble will be on tap across the Southeast and southern Mid-Atlantic. Significant snow accumulations, battering coastal winds and more near record cold temperatures will be on tap.

The system that will bring the wintry headaches hasn't even form, but the ingredients for it will be moving into place today. A reinforcing arctic airmass settling southward out of the northern Plains will spread southward tonight and Saturday. The TemperatureRadar shows temperatures only being in the 20s throughout the Carolinas and the Southeast by Saturday morning.

With the cold air in place, a coastal storm will form just off the Southeast Coast. Snow will quickly develop and fall across northeastern Georgia, the Carolinas and southern Virginia and the WeatherRadar showing it lasting into Sunday morning. Six to upwards of 12 inches of snow will be possible in places like Charlotte, Raleigh and Durham, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. Slightly lower amounts will accumulate closer to the coast.

The coastal storm will strengthen Saturday night into Sunday as it pulls away from the Southeast Coast and out into the Atlantic. As it does, onshore wind gusts in excess of 35 mph, as seen on the WindRadar, will develop along the coastline, causing battering waves and could trigger power outages.

Use our discover the app section to see how the Weather & Radar application can help you prepare for the wintry weather ahead.