Boone, North Carolina – Mountain roads could turn slick before daybreak as rain flips to snow around midnight, with gusts up to 45 mph and wind chills in the single digits expected through Monday night.
According to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from midnight through midnight Monday night for Ashe and Watauga counties in North Carolina and Grayson and Smyth counties in Virginia. Farther north, Bland, Giles, Bath, Monroe and eastern Greenbrier counties are under an advisory from 1 a.m. Sunday until 1 a.m. Tuesday. Snow totals of up to 4 inches are expected in the higher elevations, with locally higher amounts above 4,000 feet. Areas farther north may see up to 3 inches.
Colder air will deepen Sunday night as a coastal storm strengthens, allowing snow to persist across the Blue Ridge. U.S. 221, U.S. 421 near Boone, Interstate 77 through Bland County and mountain routes around Lewisburg and White Sulphur Springs could become snow-covered, especially during heavier bursts Sunday night and Monday.
Temperatures will drop into the teens Sunday night, producing wind chills in the single digits. Gusty winds may down small tree limbs and cause isolated outages.
Drivers should slow down, carry winter supplies and check 511 for updated road conditions. Advisories remain in effect into early Tuesday as mountain snow continues.
