Snippets from Mount Holly AFD this AM-
A strong line of showers is expected to accompany right along or just ahead of the front as it passes through. Also, there will be another surge of southerly winds in tandem with a 50-70 knot low level jet ahead of the front. All of this will be in response to the incredible amount of forcing and energy this system will have. Expect the front to move through the area quickly with it likely arriving in our western zones by around 8-9am, the I-95 metro around 10-11am, and then clearing the coast in the early afternoon. Expect there will be widespread winds gusting 40-50 mph through the day Friday, first out of the south ahead of the front and then sharply turning westerly behind it. The aforementioned line of showers along the front may be able to tap into the accelerated winds not far off the surface and mix down some higher gusts in the 50-60 mph range increasing the threat for wind damage and power outages. Right on the backside of the front, hi-res guidance and model soundings are favoring a transition from rain to a quick burst of snow as the temperatures plummet below freezing.
The other concern we ave associated with the rapid introduction of a very cold airmass is the potential for a quick freezing of wet surfaces causing widespread icy conditions. One factor we may have in our favor to combat a significant flash freeze is the few hours of precip-free conditions leading up to the frontal passage, thus surfaces may not have a lot of antecedent moisture. It is also possible that there may be a brief time lag between the frontal passage/rain and when temperatures plunge below freezing; a short timespan between those two occurrences coupled with elevated winds may allow some surfaces to dry and limit freezing potential. But with all that said, the potential for dangerous, icy conditions and slick surfaces is certainly there and we will continue to closely monitor through the morning. By late day, as temperatures continue to plunge, dangerously cold conditions will become the primary hazard. So all in all, still expecting a wild day weather-wise. It`s worth noting that the combined impacts of any power outages due to the strong winds plus the extreme cold to follow could be significant.