Given the above, still think sleet will be the predominant
precip type for a while on Sunday, but some guidance now
indicating an earlier transition to freezing rain, especially
across the VA/NC border and south. With the higher confidence of
more freezing rain, have kept ice amounts to 0.4" to 0.75" for
most of North Carolina and southern/SW Virginia, with localized
higher amounts along the crest of the Blue Ridge. This is a
significant amount of ice... downed trees and power lines,
resulting in extended power outages are now becoming more
likely.
Since sleet typically has a liquid equivalent ratio of roughly (2-
1/3-1), we could potentially see additional sleet totals on top of
any snow that falls early on in the event. The snow that does fall
into this extremely cold and dry airmass will be very fluffy and
light, while the sleet that falls on top, combined with freezing
rain, will lead to a heavy crust on top of the previously
fallen snow.