Snow forecast in parts of NC mountains after springlike weather. How much could fall?
After a stretch of springlike temperatures, a half-foot of snow could bring slick roads to parts of Western North Carolina this weekend.
Several mountain counties are under a winter storm watch as forecasters warn of “heavy snow and gusty winds” that could damage trees and power lines. The watch is in effect the night of Saturday, Feb. 11 until late Sunday, Feb. 12.
Up to 6 inches of snow could fall in some mountain areas as overnight lows are expected to dip into the 30s over the weekend.
But the forecast is still subject to change, the National Weather Service said.
“This is a complex weather pattern,” officials wrote on Feb. 10. “Forecast confidence remains low at this point. Modest changes in the storm track can alter the precipitation type in some locations, total amounts, and the timing of the event.”
So far, the highest possible snowfall total is forecast for Newland, roughly 65 miles northeast of Asheville. The town could see between 3 and 10 inches of snow, with forecasters expecting 6 inches after the precipitation starts to transition from a wintry mix late Saturday into Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
Newland and surrounding areas could see “total snow and sleet accumulations of 4 to 10 inches and ice accumulations of a light glaze possible.”
About 3 inches of snow are possible near the popular mountain town Boone and 1 inch near the tourist hot spot Asheville, while other places could see lower amounts, maps updated at about 2:30 p.m. Feb. 10 show.
“Impacts will include slick spots on roadways, sidewalks and other elevated surfaces,” the weather service said. “Higher elevations that receive greater amounts of snow could experience hazardous driving conditions.”
The predictions come after the mountains experienced days of warmer temperatures. In the Asheville area, recent highs ranged from 61 to 63 degrees, which is the normal range for late March, according to historic weather data.
But this weekend, Asheville is expecting a high of about 50 degrees on Saturday. Temperatures could drop into the 30s overnight before a high of 37 degrees on Sunday.
“Temperatures are expected to be borderline for wintry precip,” forecasters wrote. “Even small changes in the temperature forecast could result in a more impactful event, even for the lower elevations.”
Skies should clear by Monday, when Asheville could see a high of 52 degrees, predictions show.
This story was originally published February 10, 2023 at 11:37 AM.
