Updated 12/22 at 8:00 p.m.
A reduction in the estimates of ice accumulation is good news for Lincoln County residents as a winter storm visits the area, however the Ice Storm Warning issued by the National Weather Service has been extended until noon on Monday.
Other possibly good news is the apparent difference between forecast and actual conditions as of mid-day on Sunday. Radar images monitored on intellicast.com through the day indicated much of the morning precipitation arriving as rainfall on the peninsulas and immediate coastal areas. By 1:30 p.m. the precipitation moving through Lincoln County was scattered, though temps were low enough to produce additional icing.
However, forecasters are describing the situation on Sunday evening as a “lull” and calling for a slug of moisture presently over the mid Atlantic states to track northeast and arrive in Lincoln County sometime Monday morning. Even so, the forecast at intellicast.com calls for only a 30 to 50 percent chance of either freezing drizzle or light freezing rain on Monday morning.
Presently the NWS estimate for total ice accumulation through Monday stands at “around one half inch”. The original estimate in the Saturday NWS bulletin was for up to one inch of accumulation.
Areas of Lincoln County north of the Rt. 1 corridor should see the heaviest ice accumulation, while areas south of the corridor should experience lighter accumulation, according to forecasters. Peninsulas should see the lightest accumulation.
“Significant amounts of ice accumulations will make travel dangerous or impossible,” the NWS warns. “Travel is strongly discouraged.”
The NWS bulletin also cites the possibility that, “Tree limbs and power lines will likely see significant accumulations (of ice). Snapped limbs will pose a danger to those outside and could lead to power outages.”
The Lincoln County News will continue to follow the progress of this event and post any additional information here as soon as it is obtained.
