Winter Storm Event

Snow, Freezing Rain Started: December 15, 2010 at 9 pm EST Ended: December 16, 2010 at 5 pm EST
A weak storm system tracking west to east across the state combined with cold air to produce a prolonged period of light snow and light freezing rain. Many location experienced enough icing to cause accidents. Due to the snow and ice falling in the morning near rush hour numerous accidents were reported. Three individuals were killed in Central North Carolina as a result of these accidents. EXTENDED ANALYSIS: A very cold airmass was in place across the southeast with dewpoints in the single digits across much of NC on the morning of December 16th. As a warm, moist flow from the Gulf of Mexico began to overspread the areas, snow broke out during the pre-dawn hours. With a lack of a cold high pressure to the north, the precipitation gradually transitioned to sleet, freezing rain, and eventually plain rain from south to north during the day. The greatest snowfall accumulations occurred across norther NC, where the cold air remained entrenched the longest. Across the northern counties of NC, 1 to 2.5 inches of snow fell, with a narrow strip of 1 to 2 inches just south of that including northern Wake county. Freezing rain was more prominent in Ashe, Alleghany, and Surry counties where up to 1/4 inch ice accrual was measured. Further east, between 1/10 to 1/8 of an inch of ice accrual occured. The remaining portion of the state saw only trace amounts of snow and freezing rain accumulation.
Injuries	not available	Deaths	1
Property Damage	not available	Crop Damage	not available
Event Analysis from the National Weather Service in Raleigh
Weather Station Data Snow   Sleet   Freezing Rain   Rain   Mix
X Hourly Data Daily Data Total Snowfall Total Precipitation Primary Precip. Type Minimum Temperature Maximum Wind Speed