Asheville, NC – The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the northwestern North Carolina mountains, in effect from 7 p.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Friday.
The advisory covers Avery, Yancey, and Mitchell Counties, as well as the mountain regions of Burke, Caldwell, and McDowell Counties. A wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is expected, with snow and sleet accumulations up to three-quarters of an inch and ice totals around one-tenth of an inch.
According to the Weather Service, the combination of snow and ice will make many mountain roads treacherous or impassable overnight, especially along higher elevations and back roads. Isolated power outages are possible as the weight of ice and snow may cause tree limbs and power lines to sag or break.
Forecasters warn that hazardous conditions will likely persist through the Friday morning commute, with gradual improvement by early afternoon as temperatures rise.
Drivers are urged to avoid unnecessary travel and to use extreme caution if travel is unavoidable. Motorists can check real-time conditions at 511 or through local weather service updates.
