Hazardous Weather Outlook for Rabun County

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina, and Northeast Georgia, including Rabun County.  A low-pressure system is expected to impact the forecast area late this week.  A wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow will be possible Wednesday night into Thursday morning, with only minor snow and ice accumulations anticipated before precipitation changes over to rain.  Precipitation will then change again over to snow Thursday night and linger into Friday across the mountains.  Only light snow accumulations are expected, but roads may still be wet as temperatures quickly fall below freezing, resulting in patchy black ice by Friday afternoon.  Arctic air will spread over the region Friday, producing strong, gusty winds, and dangerous wind chill values that will continue through the weekend.  Gusts of 35 to 55 mph may cause travel difficulties, downed trees, and power outages.  Water in poorly insulated or open pipes could freeze due to the prolonged duration of the cold temperatures.