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CHARLOTTE (Queen City News) – A major winter storm could bring heavy snow, strong winds and hazardous travel conditions to much of western and central North Carolina and parts of South Carolina this weekend.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter storm warning for many counties starting Friday afternoon and continuing through Sunday, as well as in some mountainous areas including Avery County, Burke County Mountains and Caldwell County Mountains.
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Snowfall totals vary by location. Several counties could see 3 to 6 inches of snow, while parts of central North Carolina, including Anson and Stanley counties, could see 5 to 8 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Areas farther south and east, such as parts of Lancaster and Chesterfield counties, could see 2 to 5 inches of rain.
Strong winds are also a problem. Wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph are possible, with gusts up to 55 mph in the mountains. These winds, combined with heavy, wet snow, could blow down tree branches and power lines, causing scattered or isolated outages.
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The storm is expected to start impacting travel as early as Friday night, just in time for the evening commute. The National Weather Service said that with temperatures in the 20s, snow could quickly stick to roadways, worsening conditions quickly. Blowing and drifting snow on Saturday may also lead to poor visibility, especially at higher elevations.
Officials urge residents to consider postponing travel and prepare an emergency kit in case an unavoidable situation arises.
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