Winter Storm Watches are already up for parts of the Carolinas and Virginia as a storm system will bring the threat of ice and freezing rain to the region Thursday.

So far this year, the Charlotte area has avoided any major winter weather issues. First Warn forecaster Larry Sprinkle said this big storm will move out of the Gulf of Mexico and track toward the Carolinas Thursday into Friday. With temperatures in the low 30s from Wednesday night into Thursday, this means freezing rain could become an issue across the region.

Freezing rain is a rain that falls as a liquid and freezes immediately on the surface it comes into contact with. That could be tree limbs, power lines, bridges, overpasses, even on vehicles. The resulting ice glaze can cause major problems, including power outages, dangerous road conditions as well as downed trees and power lines.

The main areas that will be affected include the North Carolina mountains, the foothills and the northern Piedmont. From Greensboro, all the way to the Virginia border will be at risk for the most ice. #NCwx #CLTwx

FULL STORY: https://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/ice-could-be-an-issue-thursday/275-84c02d2c-bc87-4e87-be71-b1e1515ab5dd