Charlotte, NC – SNOW! Or at least the Southern version of it. As cold air dips into the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, the National Weather Service (NWS) is reminding residents to understand the difference between a Winter Storm Advisory and a Winter Storm Warning — especially before traveling on I-40, I-85, or I-81 through the mountains or piedmont regions.
According to the NWS, a Winter Storm Warning means heavy snow, sleet, or freezing rain is expected or already occurring. In southern states, that often includes two or more inches of snow or at least a quarter inch of ice — enough to down power lines, close highways, and cause widespread outages.
A Winter Weather Advisory, however, indicates that lighter snow or ice is likely but still dangerous. Even a dusting can turn roads slick in areas not used to plowing or salting. The NWS says advisory conditions frequently lead to hundreds of crashes across North Carolina and Virginia each year.
Thresholds for these alerts vary by region — what triggers an advisory in Tennessee’s mountains could prompt a full warning near Raleigh or Richmond. Forecasters urge residents to prepare early, stay off roads during active warnings, and follow real-time updates at weather.gov.
