More snow on the way for NC mountains, forecasters say. Here’s how much could fall
The North Carolina mountains are in for more snow Friday and Saturday as another winter system moves through the area, forecasters say.
The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for most North Carolina counties along the Tennessee border and a winter storm warning for Swain and Graham counties.
Snow showers in the mountains are expected to start Friday morning and could continue through midday Saturday, forecasters say. The snow could mix with some rain at lower elevations in some valleys, the NWS says.
“The highest accumulations will occur along the higher ridge tops, especially in and around the Great Smoky Mountains and along the North Carolina/Tennessee border,” the NWS says.
The far western counties are forecast to see the highest snow totals. “For the Winter Storm Warning, heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 6 inches at elevations above 3,500 feet, and as high as 9 inches above 5,000 feet,” the NWS says.
“For the Winter Weather Advisory, snow expected. Total snow accumulations of less than 2 inches in the valleys, but up to 4 inches on the ridges,” forecasters say.
For other counties along the border with Tennessee, NWS forecasters say to expect “total snow accumulations up to 2 inches at valley locations, and 2 to 4 inches on ridgetops. Isolated spots on northwest facing slopes could see up to 6 inches.”
Asheville is not in the warning or advisory area.
Some higher elevations already saw snow this week, with the National Park Service sharing pictures of a blanket of snow in Great Smoky Mountains Thursday.
“Today, high elevations are coated in a blanket of snow 2.5 inches deep at Newfound Gap, creating a beautiful winter wonderland. This snow has created hazardous road conditions in some areas and thus some roads are closed until they can be cleared by road crews,” the Park Service said in a Facebook post.
