Newland, NC – Residents in the North Carolina High Country should prepare for a gusty stretch beginning shortly after midnight, as the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a Wind Advisory from midnight tonight through noon Sunday for Avery County.
According to the Weather Service, northwest winds will increase rapidly overnight, reaching sustained speeds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph. Communities including Banner Elk, Newland and Ingalls will feel the strongest impacts through early Sunday morning as colder air pours across the mountains.
Forecasters warn that the combination of high terrain and funneling through gaps may lead to brief but intense bursts of wind, capable of knocking down small tree limbs and blowing unsecured objects around. A few isolated power outages are possible, particularly in rural and wooded areas.
Travelers on local mountain roads, especially those operating high-profile vehicles, should use extra caution overnight and Sunday morning. Crosswinds may be strong enough to make driving difficult along ridge-top routes and open stretches of US-221, NC-194 and nearby secondary roads.
Residents are encouraged to secure outdoor items, recharge essentials in case of brief outages and monitor updated weather information from NOAA Weather Radio or trusted local sources.
