National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Widespread Snow and Wind

January 28th, 2021

    

 

    

Sample of snow totals for January 28th, 2021.

 

 

Overview

 

An area of low pressure moved to our south late in the afternoon of January 27th into the evening of January 28th bringing widespread rain and low clouds to all of Eastern North Carolina.  As this area of low pressure moved off the coast, colder air moved into the area.  Enough cold air moved in that rain changed to all snow over all over Eastern North Carolina. Where the transition occurred fastest, 1 to as much as 5 inches of snow fell in places such as Greenville, Williamston and Plymouth.  Toward the coast flakes were reported as a trace of snow in locations such as New Bern, Jacksonville, Morehead City, Ocracoke and Buxton. 

 

As the low pressure strengthened off the coast during the day of the 28th, strong winds occurred especially along the coast. These strong winds did produce some coastal flooding across Hatteras Island along with scattered power outages for part of our area. 

Using the tabs below scroll through for more information and graphics.

 

 

Snow Reports

 

The image below shows that all of Eastern North Carolina reported snow.  For most along the immediate coast it was just in the air. Farther north and west accumulations of 1 to 2 inches were common, with more than 3 inches locally. 

 

24 Hour Snowfall Reports

Snowfall Totals January 28th

 

 

 24 Hour Snowfall Reports (1/28/20)

000
NOUS42 KMHX 281849 CCA
PNSMHX
NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>092-094-193>196-198-199-203>205-290508-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
1208 PM EST THU JAN 28 2021

...SNOWFALL REPORTS PAST 24 HOURS...

LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       PROVIDER             

...NORTH CAROLINA...

...BEAUFORT COUNTY...
1 NNE PINETOWN               3.8 IN    0625 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER      
PANTEGO                      2.9 IN    0807 AM 01/28   PUBLIC               
1 SW WASHINGTON              2.0 IN    0641 AM 01/28   PUBLIC               
BATH                         1.5 IN    0722 AM 01/28   PUBLIC               
BATH 6.6 ESE                 1.2 IN    0852 AM 01/28   COCORAHS             
1 ESE RIVER ROAD             1.0 IN    1042 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER  
AURORA                       TRACE     0930 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER  
CHOCOWINITY                  TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER    

...CARTERET COUNTY...
BEAUFORT                     TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   PUBLIC
CAPE CARTERET                TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   NWS EMPLOYEE
3 S MERRIMON                 TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER
MOREHEAD CITY                TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   PUBLIC
NEWPORT                      TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   NWS EMPLOYEE
OTWAY                        TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER

...CRAVEN COUNTY...
1 NNE CAYTON                 0.5 IN    0821 AM 01/28   EMERGENCY MNGR 
NEW BERN                     TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER
RIVER BEND                   TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER
TRENT WOODS                  TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER      

...DARE COUNTY...
1 N SOUTHERN SHORES          0.7 IN    0904 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER      
MANNS HARBOR                 0.5 IN    0957 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER      
1 NNW KITTY HAWK             0.5 IN    0715 AM 01/28   PUBLIC               
DUCK                         0.4 IN    1030 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER      
1 ENE COLINGTON              0.1 IN    1000 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER
BUXTON                       TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER  
NAGS HEAD                    TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER  
WANCHESE                     TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER    

...GREENE COUNTY...
3 NNE ORMONDSVILLE           1.3 IN    0843 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER      

...HYDE COUNTY...
1 ENE SLADESVILLE            0.8 IN    0720 AM 01/28   PUBLIC               
ENGELHARD 0.8 NW             0.5 IN    0700 AM 01/28   COCORAHS
OCRACOKE                     TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   PUBLIC             

...LENOIR COUNTY...
LA GRANGE                    1.0 IN    0700 AM 01/28   PUBLIC
KINSTON 4.4 WNW              0.8 IN    0700 AM 01/28   COCORAHS             
KINSTON 5.1 WNW              0.5 IN    0700 AM 01/28   COCORAHS             
3 NW GRIFTON                 0.3 IN    0753 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER      
1 NNW DEEP RUN               0.3 IN    0700 AM 01/28   PUBLIC               
2 N KINSTON                  TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER   

...MARTIN COUNTY...
HAMILTON                     5.0 IN    0841 AM 01/28   PUBLIC               
WILLIAMSTON                  4.0 IN    0955 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER      
HASSELL                      3.5 IN    0844 AM 01/28   PUBLIC               
4 E SMITHWICK                2.7 IN    0500 AM 01/28   PUBLIC               

...ONSLOW COUNTY...
5 SSW JACKSONVILLE           TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER

...PAMLICO COUNTY...
LOWLAND 0.2 SE               0.4 IN    0700 AM 01/28   COCORAHS
ARAPAHOE                     TRACE     0930 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER  
MERRITT                      TRACE     0900 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER             

...PITT COUNTY...
1 W FALKLAND                 3.2 IN    0840 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER      
1 SSW PITT-GREENVILLE AIRPOR 2.5 IN    1003 AM 01/28   PUBLIC               
2 SSW GREENVILLE             2.0 IN    0847 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER      
EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY     2.0 IN    0755 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER      
FOUNTAIN 0.1 NE              2.0 IN    0700 AM 01/28   COCORAHS             
2 SSW FOUNTAIN               2.0 IN    0630 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER      
FARMVILLE 3.1 NW             1.8 IN    0800 AM 01/28   COCORAHS             
GREENVILLE 5.0 SE            1.7 IN    0800 AM 01/28   COCORAHS           
4 ESE WINTERVILLE            1.5 IN    1002 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER      
GRIMESLAND 4.7 W             1.5 IN    0800 AM 01/28   COCORAHS             
GREENVILLE 2.0 SE            1.5 IN    0800 AM 01/28   COCORAHS             
WINTERVILLE 3.5 W            1.5 IN    0700 AM 01/28   COCORAHS             
WINTERVILLE 2.8 WNW          1.5 IN    0700 AM 01/28   COCORAHS             
WINTERVILLE 1.0 ENE          1.5 IN    0700 AM 01/28   COCORAHS             
3 S DOWDY FICKLEN STADIUM    1.5 IN    0615 AM 01/28   PUBLIC               
WINTERVILLE 2.6 ENE          1.3 IN    0900 AM 01/28   COCORAHS             
GREENVILLE 2.8 ESE           1.2 IN    0900 AM 01/28   COCORAHS
1 W WINTERVILLE              1.2 IN    0930 AM 01/28   TRAINED SPOTTER              


...TYRRELL COUNTY...
GUM NECK (COOP)              0.5 IN    0600 AM 01/28   COOP                 

...WASHINGTON COUNTY...
PLYMOUTH                     4.0 IN    0838 AM 01/28   PUBLIC               
&&

 

 

 

Pictures

With the snowfall occuring in the early morning hours of the 28th, we got some fantastic photos as the sun came up.  Take a look below at some photos that people have shared with us. If you have photos to share, please email Erik at erik.heden@noaa.gov.   

 

 

Farm Life, NC

 

Credit: Megan Williams Simpson

 

Farm Life, NC

 

Credit: Megan Williams Simpson

 

Washington, NC

 

Credit: Peg Bodie

 

 


 

Videos

While snow is not rare in Eastern North Carolina, it certainly is northworthy enough for people to take a lot of pictures AND video. Check out the video we put together outside our office prior to daybreak on the 28th.  

 

National Weather Service Office (Newport, NC)

 

 

 

Greenville, NC

 

 

 

Greenville, NC

 

 

 

Wind Reports/Coastal Flooding

 

The area of low pressure that caused the snow in our area also produced some gusty winds, especially near the coast.  While everybody experienced breezy conditions, strong tropical storm force winds were common over the Outer Banks.  With strong northly winds, water level rises occurred on the southeastern end of Pamlico Sound over Hatteras Island.  Water covered portions of Highway 12 for a time, with up to 2 feet of inundation (above normally dry ground) reported.  While the water was high at one end of Pamlico Sound, at the other end or the western end of Pamlico Sound low water was present due to the strong winds "blowing" out the water.  Scroll below to see wind reports and coastal flooding images. 

 

 

A Sample Of Some Wind Gusts January 28th, 2021

Wind Gusts 1/28/2021

 

 

 Maximum Wind Reports (1/28/21)

000
NOUS42 KMHX 281901
PNSMHX
NCZ029-044>047-079>081-090>092-094-193>196-198-199-203>205-290701-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
201 PM EST THU JAN 28 2021

...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS...

LOCATION                     SPEED     TIME/DATE       PROVIDER             

...NORTH CAROLINA...

...BEAUFORT COUNTY...
BUNYAN RAWS                  32 MPH    0113 PM 01/28   RAWS                 

...CARTERET COUNTY...
7 W CEDAR ISLAND             46 MPH    0856 AM 01/28   AWOS                 
EMERALD ISLE                 44 MPH    0621 AM 01/28   CWOP                 
BEAUFORT (MRH ASOS)          43 MPH    1258 PM 01/28   ASOS                 
BOGUE FIELD (NJM ASOS)       43 MPH    1157 AM 01/28   AWOS                 
FORT MACON (WXFLOW)          43 MPH    0458 AM 01/28   WXFLOW               
CAPE LOOKOUT                 41 MPH    0700 AM 01/28   NDBC                 
CROATAN RAWS                 40 MPH    0105 PM 01/28   RAWS                 
NEWPORT                      35 MPH    0110 PM 01/28   CWOP                 
MOREHEAD CITY                34 MPH    0145 PM 01/28   CWOP                 
INDIAN BEACH                 30 MPH    0147 PM 01/28   CWOP                 
ATLANTIC BEACH               30 MPH    0231 AM 01/28   CWOP                 

...CRAVEN COUNTY...
NEW BERN (EWN ASOS)          49 MPH    1254 PM 01/28   ASOS                 
CHERRY POINT (NKT ASOS)      43 MPH    1254 PM 01/28   AWOS                 
HAVELOCK                     39 MPH    1131 AM 01/28   CWOP                 
TRENT WOODS                  32 MPH    1147 AM 01/28   CWOP                 
NEW BERN RAWS                32 MPH    1117 AM 01/28   RAWS                 

...DARE COUNTY...
OREGON INLET CG (WXFLOW)     55 MPH    1032 AM 01/28   WXFLOW               
HATTERAS HIGH (WXFLOW)       51 MPH    0912 AM 01/28   WXFLOW               
KHK RESORT (WXFLOW)          51 MPH    0759 AM 01/28   WXFLOW               
REAL SLICK (WXFLOW)          49 MPH    0806 AM 01/28   WXFLOW               
RODANTHE                     48 MPH    0123 PM 01/28   CWOP                 
AVON (WXFLOW)                48 MPH    0804 AM 01/28   WXFLOW               
KILL DEVIL HILLS             47 MPH    0935 AM 01/28   CWOP                 
BUXTON (WXFLOW)              47 MPH    0824 AM 01/28   WXFLOW               
FRISCO                       47 MPH    0802 AM 01/28   CWOP                 
NAGS HEAD                    43 MPH    0941 AM 01/28   CWOP                 
FRISCO (HSE ASOS)            40 MPH    0851 AM 01/28   ASOS                 
MANTEO (MQI AWOS)            37 MPH    0855 AM 01/28   AWOS                 
DARE CO GNRY RAN (2DP AWOS)  35 MPH    1056 AM 01/28   AWOS                 
DARE BOMB RANGE RAWS         34 MPH    0728 AM 01/28   RAWS                 

...DUPLIN COUNTY...
SUMMERLINS CROSSROADS 3 SE   31 MPH    0800 AM 01/28   COOP                 

...HYDE COUNTY...
4 NE ENGELHARD               37 MPH    0915 AM 01/28   AWOS                 
FAIRFIELD RAWS               30 MPH    0717 AM 01/28   RAWS                 

...ONSLOW COUNTY...
JACKSONVILLE (NCA ASOS)      40 MPH    1256 PM 01/28   AWOS                 
SNEADS FERRY                 39 MPH    1215 PM 01/28   CWOP                 
SANDY RUN RAWS               34 MPH    1119 AM 01/28   RAWS                 
RICHLANDS (OAJ AWOS)         33 MPH    1256 PM 01/28   AWOS                 
JACKSONVILLE                 33 MPH    1212 PM 01/28   CWOP                 

...PAMLICO COUNTY...
ORIENTAL                     39 MPH    0117 PM 01/28   CWOP                 

...WASHINGTON COUNTY...
ROPER                        33 MPH    1231 AM 01/28   CWOP                 
TIDEWATER RESEARCH STATION   30 MPH    1230 PM 01/28   NC-ECONET            

...MARITIME STATIONS...
18 SE CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOU 63 MPH    0840 AM 01/28   NDBC                 
JENNETTES PIER (WXFLOW)      55 MPH    1014 AM 01/28   WXFLOW               
31 S BOGUE INLET PIER        54 MPH    0608 AM 01/28   NDBC                 
OCRACOKE (WXFLOW)            53 MPH    0739 AM 01/28   WXFLOW               
AVON SOUND (WXFLOW)          51 MPH    0935 AM 01/28   WXFLOW               
FRISCO WOODS (WXFLOW)        50 MPH    0859 AM 01/28   WXFLOW               
DUCK PIER                    49 MPH    0848 AM 01/28   NOS-NWLON            
ALLIGATOR RIVER BR (WXFLOW)  49 MPH    0639 AM 01/28   WXFLOW               
PAMLICO SOUND (WXFLOW)       49 MPH    1008 AM 01/28   WXFLOW               
ROANOKE SOUND CHANNEL (WXFLO 43 MPH    0812 AM 01/28   WXFLOW               
NORTH RIVER                  42 MPH    0107 PM 01/28   WXFLOW               
CROATAN SOUND                40 MPH    1257 PM 01/28   WXFLOW               
BEAUFORT                     38 MPH    0900 AM 01/28   NOS-NWLON            
SOUTHERN SHORES              37 MPH    0910 AM 01/28   CWOP                 
&&

Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers
for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.


			

 

 

With the two images below you an see the impacts of water levels in our area due to persistent strong winds.  In this case we had strong northerly winds which caused water level rises on the southern end of Pamlico Sound, including Hatteras Island where high water was reported on Highway 12.  At the opposite end of the sound these strong winds caused low water near Washington, NC (see second graph). 

 

Pamlico Sound At Coast Guard Hatteras

Water Level Gauge

Rainfall Totals

 

 

Pamlico River At Washington

Water Level Gauge

Washington Gauge

 

 

 

 

Radar

 

On the loop below, rain is found across all of Eastern North Carolina at the start of the loop on the evening of January 27th.  Gradually as colder air works into our area, the rain changes completely over to snow. 

 

KMHX Doppler Radar Loop (Showing Rain Changing To Snow)

Early morning January 28th, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

Satellite

 

As the snow ended we saw a brief window of clear skies and sunshine.  This allowed us to view the snow cover from outer space with our GOES-16 Satellite. On the image below, the area circled in yellow, is snow cover.  You may be able to distinguish the difference between clouds (also white) and snow cover (white) by viewing the video versus the still image. 

    

 

GOES 16 Satellite Loop (Showing Snow Cover) January 28th, 2021

 

 

 

    

GOES 16 Satellite Imagery Showing Snow Cover on January 28th, 2021.