BOONE, N.C. – A wintry mix is taking aim at the North Carolina High Country tonight, bringing freezing drizzle, gusty winds, and light snow to the mountain ridges and border counties. The storm will make travel slick and potentially hazardous from Boone and West Jefferson to Independence and Troutdale through early Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 7 p.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Tuesday for Ashe and Watauga Counties in North Carolina and Grayson County in Virginia. The system begins with a light glaze of ice tonight, followed by up to 3 inches of snow Monday and Monday night, with higher amounts on ridge tops. Winds could gust up to 45 mph, adding to the risk of falling branches and isolated power outages.
Travelers on U.S. 421, N.C. 194, and the Blue Ridge Parkway should plan for rapidly changing road conditions, especially Monday morning when icy patches and blowing snow could create slick, low-visibility stretches. Commuters and school buses may face delays as temperatures hold near freezing across higher elevations.
Residents should secure outdoor items, charge devices, and avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve Tuesday morning. This storm marks another early winter tease for the Blue Ridge region, with more cold waves possible before Thanksgiving.
