I lived in the triangle in NC for over a decade. EVERY time snow maps were showing heavy snows in NC, you end up with rain or sleet. Jan. 2016 I was in Greensboro. 5 inches of sleet from a forecast that called for a foot of snow. It takes abnormally cold temps and a true southern slider ( there were 2 last year). I am not a meteorologist, so I can only speak from experience but this setup looks like a classic MA snowstorm that teases NC with digital snow, only to watch DC get blasted as you get pelted with sleet.