Frostbite is a real threat for people in NC mountains as cold moves in, experts say

Warnings have been issued in the mountains along the North Carolina-Tennessee state line as a dangerous arctic air mass advances on the region.

The cold is expected to arrive late Sunday, Jan. 19, bringing mountain wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph and daily highs — yes, highs — of minus 12 Celsius (10.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in places like Newland, North Carolina, about a 110-mile drive northwest of Charlotte.

Lows in the area will reach minus 17 Celsius after dark (1.4 degrees Fahrenheit) on multiple nights, the National Weather Service warns. AccuWeather says it might be even colder than that, at minus 20 degrees on Jan. 21. (That’s minus 4 Fahrenheit.)

Extended exposure to the cold could be life-threatening, prompting Tennessee Emergency Management Agency to warn people in the region they risk hypothermia or frostbite by staying outdoors too long.

The cold will be widespread, with nearly all of western North Carolina forecast to see single-digit lows for several days next week.

Wind chills will worsen conditions ”with single digit to below zero wind chills expected both Tuesday and Wednesday morning,” forecasters say.

Extreme cold combined with wind can cause the human body to lose heat at a faster rate, enhancing the risk of frostbite and hypothermia, the NWS says.

Frostbite occurs when skin and the tissues beneath it freeze, with fingers, toes, ears and the nose at highest risk, experts say.

Hypothermia occurs when someone develops “a dangerously low body temperature” while spending extended periods outdoors, the NWS says. Stranded travelers are among those at most risk.

This story was originally published January 17, 2025 at 7:32 AM.