▪ If the storm’s center tracks near the North Carolina coast — say, 50 to 100 miles off shore — that would allow for more sustained northerly winds over the Piedmont and a more prolonged period of snow there. The Coastal plan might see snow in that case, but along the coast it would be mostly rain.

As a deep winter chill begins to take over the northern half of the country, a new major winter storm will move across the U.S. this weekend into early next week.