Wintry Mix on the Way: What Rowan County Needs to Know About Thursday Night Into Friday

A quiet, chilly stretch of weather is about to give way to a more active setup as moisture returns to the region late Thursday night into Friday. While this is not shaping up to be a major winter storm for Rowan County, it is the kind of system that brings a little bit of everything — cold rain, pockets of wet snow, and even a brief chance for freezing rain early on.

Here is what to expect and what you do not need to worry about.

Thursday Night: Light Precipitation Arrives

Clouds increase throughout the day Thursday, but the real changes arrive after midnight. Moisture moves in from the southwest, meeting colder air that has been settling over the region.

Temperatures will be hovering near or just above freezing at the surface, so the first few hours of precipitation may fall as a rain and snow mix, especially north of Salisbury and in areas closer to the I-40 corridor.

Accumulation:
Little to no snow accumulation is expected. Ground temperatures are too warm, and precipitation stays light.

Friday Morning: Rain Takes Over

As warmer air moves in aloft, any mix quickly transitions to all rain by mid-morning, even for northern Rowan and foothill-adjacent communities.

This setup fits an in-situ cold air damming pattern, with cold air trapped near the surface while warmer air moves in above. That mismatch keeps temperatures chilly and the rain cold and steady.

High temperatures Friday will only reach the upper 30s.

Friday Night: Watching for a Brief Glaze

As the coastal low pulls away and precipitation tapers off, colder air slips back in. A small window opens late Friday night into early Saturday morning where lingering moisture could briefly fall as freezing rain before ending.

Risk level:
Low. Ground temperatures should help limit issues, and most areas will be drying out as temperatures dip to around 29 degrees. The best chance for any minor icing would be in the colder northern parts of the county or shaded backroads, not widespread impacts.

Saturday: Slow Improvements

Saturday morning may start chilly and damp, but temperatures rise above freezing by mid-morning. Any freezing rain risk ends quickly, and the rest of the day features occasional light rain chances.

What Not to Worry About

This is not a storm that brings accumulating snow, widespread glaze, significant travel problems, or school or event impacts. It is simply a cold, messy system that feels like winter without delivering a true winter storm.

Bottom Line for Rowan County

A light mix Thursday night transitions to cold rain Friday. No accumulations are expected. A brief freezing rain chance is possible late Friday night with minimal impacts. The weekend trends chilly but improves with time.