By Mark Wineka
mark.wineka@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Here it is in a nutshell:

Snow, freezing rain and sleet.

A messy Tuesday morning.

Bitter cold to come.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch from 10 a.m. today to noon Tuesday for a broad North Carolina area, including Rowan County. Some places in the mountains and foothills might see a snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches, but it’s more likely Rowan County will deal with 1 to 2 inches of snow and maybe a layer of  ice on top of that.

A winter storm watch means there’s the potential for significant snow, sleet or ice accumulations that could affect travel, according to the NWS.

Forecasters see today and Tuesday playing out like this:

If the snow comes, it likely will be between 4 and 10 p.m. today. That could be followed by some freezing rain after 10 p.m.

Snow, freezing rain or sleet are likely Tuesday before 1 p.m.

How sure is the National Weather Service that some wintry precipitation is coming? As of Sunday, it put the chance of precipitation this afternoon at 60 percent; tonight, 80 percent; and Tuesday morning, 60 percent.

If the current weather patterns hold, Tuesday morning could be a tough drive to work or school.

Another blast of arctic air is headed Rowan County’s way in the middle of the week. The National Weather Service says Wednesday night’s low could dip to 7 degrees after a high Wednesday of 34. Thursday’s high might only be 28, followed by an overnight low of 9.

High winds Saturday night and Sunday morning led to overtime hours for Duke Energy and other utility work crews. Blown-over trees, limbs and lines caused power outages across the region.

In Rowan County Sunday afternoon, 50 Duke Energy customers were without electricity in Spencer, according to the company. The outages included 24 customers on South Spencer Avenue, one on South Iredell Avenue, 21 on South Carolina Avenue and four on Sixth Street.

Duke Energy expected power to be restored in Spencer by 8 p.m. Sunday. There also was a customer without power on Eastside Drive between the Landis city limits and Old Concord Road.

Temperatures as cold as those predicted Wednesday and Thursday nights could lead to brief power outages during peak demands for electricity. Property owners and tenants should make sure their water pipes are protected.

Vulnerable neighbors and family members should be checked on to make sure they are warm and have plenty of blankets and heat sources. Unheated outside water supplies for pets and livestock will freeze and remain solid for several days.

The N.C. Highway Patrol has offered some tips for driving in the kind of weather expected today and Tuesday.

According to troopers, here are some things to remember:

• Avoid travel unless necessary.

• Decrease speed.

• Wear your seatbelt.

• Leave early– allow more travel time and expect delays.

• Increase your distance between vehicles – it takes longer to stop on snow-covered or icy roads.

• Clear all windows on your vehicle prior to travel – having unobstructed vision is vital to avoid running off of the road or having a collision.

• Illuminate your vehicles headlamps.

• Use extra caution on bridges and overpasses because they often freeze before roads.

• Avoid using cruise control – cruise can cause a vehicle’s wheels to continue turning on a slippery surface when speed needs to be decreased.

• Be sure your vehicle has a full tank of gas in case you are stranded for an extended period of time.

• Charge your cellphone prior to departure.

• Take a blanket.

• Notify a family member or a friend of your travel plans prior to departure – if your travel is interrupted, someone will know.

To check on road conditions, motorists are asked to go to the Department of Transportation’s website at http://www.ncdot.gov/travel/. The public should not dial 911 or the Highway Patrol communication centers for road conditions.

Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263.