Asheville, NC – After a mild start to November, winter may be inching closer across the Appalachian Mountains, where forecasters see the first signs of snow potential just before Thanksgiving.
According to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center (CPC) update issued October 24, 2025, the region—spanning North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and eastern Tennessee—will remain warmer and mostly dry through early November. However, colder air moving in from the Midwest later in the month could meet up with lingering mountain moisture.
That setup could bring light snow or wintry mix to the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Great Smoky Mountains, and West Virginia’s higher ridges between November 18–25. Even light accumulations could impact mountain travel routes and holiday drives.
While lowland cities like Knoxville, Roanoke, and Asheville will likely stay rain-only, NOAA warns that pattern flips can happen quickly as winter strengthens. A Thanksgiving week cold front could be all it takes to turn the first flakes loose over the Appalachians.
