“Now is the time to heal, to go into winter so we can emerge, knowing and resilient and not defeated.”
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“Now is the time to heal, to go into winter so we can emerge, knowing and resilient and not defeated.”
“Many residents have never experienced the absence of ‘mountain winter,’ which tourists flee and only the brave endure.”
Local professionals agree that a well-maintained wellness routine is the first step in preventing the type of depression known as seasonal affective disorder, which commonly occurs during the winter when light is low and days are short.
Just because certain bureaucratic state regulations put a damper on a potentially fun warm weather event does not mean local residents can’t enjoy the slipping and sliding around the city right now in the dead of winter!
The first official day of winter isn’t until Dec. 21, but Western North Carolina has already received an abundance of cold and snowy weather this year. And if a wealth of long-range predictions comes true, the early shots of snow could be harbingers of much more to come.
Most folks heeded the warnings and stayed off the roads on Thursday, Feb. 13, after a snow system dumped up to a foot in some locations. (Photo by Nathan Metcalf)
To the chagrin of those hoping for an early spring, Nibbles, Asheville’s very own clairvoyant groundhog, predicts six more weeks of winter weather. Or at least that was the interpretation of WLOS Chief Meteorologist Jason Boyer, who “translated” the adorable rodent’s Feb. 2 forecast at the WNC Nature Center during a Groundhog Day celebration attended by hundreds of onlookers.
The National Weather Service is cautioning WNC locals to watch out for black ice and slippery roads after sundown.
Schools are closed and buses are delayed as Asheville and the surrounding area still grapple with ice and snow today. The National Weather Service cautions the public to be careful of severe wind chill and icy roads through at least midday — but that didn’t stop this canine resident from enjoying the winter wonderland (photo by Alicia Funderburk).
With snow continuing to fall and patches of ice on the roads, the National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory through 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29. and warned about black ice, accumulating snow and severe wind chill overnight.
Thanks to a “bitterly cold arctic air mass,” in the National Weather Service’s words, Ashevilleans are grappling with “the coldest temperatures in many years,” with temperatures hitting minus 2 and wind chill as low as minus 24. The NWS warns of bad roadway conditions due to ice and snow and “dangerous wind chills.” Both city and county school systems are closed today, Jan. 7, and the Red Cross has opened warming shelters in some counties.
With winter now in full swing, many locals are cutting the chill by turning on their slow cookers or looking for the daily soup specials at their favorite local eateries. From borscht to beef-and-barley, area residents and restaurants are cooking up spoon-friendly nourishment in myriad forms. Xpress invites readers to share tried-and-true recipes and write about their favorite soup and stew offerings at local restaurants. Send your soup submissions to food@mountainx.com.
Good morning, Asheville.
If you haven’t already noticed, it snowed quite a bit. Here’s what Ashevilleans have to say about today’s weather.
While forecasting a brief respite around the middle of the day, the National Weather Service is warning Asheville area residents to be careful of ice, especially as they’re calling for more tonight.
Significant snow fell again over the higher elevations earlier this week (just before Easter), which, honestly, produced too much of a good thing for many folks in the region. I could use some “hair of the dog,” or in this case, some “green of spring” to get me over this snow hangover.
No doubt about it: March is off to a chilly start so far. Today’s sunny skies are almost enough to fool you into thinking that spring has arrived … until you step foot outside and the brisk breeze and cold air reminds you that it’s still late winter. If the clouds cooperate, I encourage you to bundle up and take the opportunity to spot the comet PanSTARRS low on the western horizon after sunset for the next week.
Did you know that each full moon has a name? Most of us have heard of the Harvest Moon, the full moon that occurs in October. In North America, the full moon in February is known as the Snow Moon (or the Storm Moon). February’s full moon occurred on Monday of this week, and it made a beautiful entrance over the eastern horizon.
Timing is everything, especially when weather conditions change as quickly as they do in the mountains. Tuesday morning, Feb. 19, brought huge fluffy snowflakes to the higher elevations, quickly adding up to a couple of inches of snow. The whiplash of a day ended with a stunning sunset that was enhanced by concentric halos around the setting sun.
More winter weather is headed our way, according to the National Weather service. A “wintry mix” of freezing rain, sleet, and light snow could make things tricky later tonight and during the Tuesday morning rush hour.