Schools and businesses across Western North Carolina are closing in preparation for a major winter storm that is predicted to severely impact the region. The National Weather Service predicts accumulations of 8 to 10 inches, though accumulations could be as high as 12 inches in a few northern foothill locations. The heaviest snowfall will occur this afternoon, with lighter precipitation continuing through Thursday morning.
See full NWS winter storm warning below for details and affected counties:
From the National Weather Service:
Winter Storm Warning issued February 12 at 4:33AM EST until February 13 at 6:00PM EST by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg
MAJOR WINTER STORM TO SEVERELY IMPACT THE REGION TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DEVELOPING FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO TO THE SOUTHEAST COASTAL WATERS WILL COMBINE WITH AN APPROACHING STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT TO CREATE WIDESPREAD HEAVY WINTRY PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA. PRECIPITATION WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION FROM THE SOUTH THIS MORNING…THEN BECOME HEAVIER THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. WIDESPREAD HEAVY SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED…WITH HEAVY SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN DEVELOPING OVER THE LOWER PIEDMONT. THE PRECIPITATION WILL END FROM THE WEST THURSDAY MORNING AS A FINAL ROUND OF SNOW SHOWERS…POSSIBLY LINGERING INTO EARLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON EAST OF INTERSTATE 77. …WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THURSDAY… * LOCATIONS…THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. * HAZARDS…HEAVY SNOW. * TIMING…SNOW WILL DEVELOP FROM THE SOUTH THIS MORNING AND BECOME HEAVIER THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. THE SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT BEFORE TAPERING OFF AS SNOW SHOWERS FROM THE WEST THURSDAY MORNING. * ACCUMULATIONS…SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 10 INCHES…EXCEPT 6 TO 8 INCHES IN THE FAR SOUTHWEST MOUNTAIN VALLEYS…AND 10 TO 12 INCHES IN A FEW NORTHERN FOOTHILL LOCATIONS. * IMPACTS…HEAVY SNOW WILL MAKE TRAVEL TREACHEROUS…IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. THE ACCUMULATIONS WILL LIKELY CREATE POWER OUTAGES…ESPECIALLY LATE TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. * TEMPERATURES…MAINLY IN THE MID TO UPPER 20S. * WINDS…NORTH 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 MPH. * VISIBILITY…ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES IN HEAVY SNOW.
Counties Affected:
Alexander; Avery; Buncombe; Burke Mountains; Caldwell Mountains; Eastern McDowell; Eastern Polk; Graham; Greater Burke; Greater Caldwell; Greater Rutherford; Haywood; Henderson; Macon; Madison; McDowell Mountains; Mitchell; Northern Jackson; Polk Mountains; Rutherford Mountains; Southern Jackson; Swain; Transylvania; YanceyIssued by: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg (Western North Carolina and Northwest South Carolina)
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