JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The southern Appalachians are bracing for a winter wake-up call tonight as colder air pours in behind a passing front, setting the stage for accumulating snow across higher terrain from Mountain City to Abingdon. Flurries will grow steadier through the night, and winds gusting to 40 mph will whip snow across ridges, cutting visibility along mountain passes.
According to the National Weather Service in Morristown, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 7 p.m. Sunday through 7 a.m. Tuesday for Johnson, Unicoi, Greene, Carter, and Monroe Counties in Tennessee, and Wise, Russell, and Washington Counties in southwest Virginia. Forecasters call for 1 to 3 inches of snow, with local totals up to 5 inches in high elevations such as Sams Gap and the I-26 corridor through Unicoi County.
Drivers on I-26, U.S. 421, and U.S. 19E should expect snow-covered stretches, gusty crosswinds, and reduced visibility, especially during the Monday morning and evening commutes. Bridges and secondary roads will ice first, and plow crews may struggle to keep up where heavier snow bands persist.
Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary mountain travel, secure outdoor items, and keep flashlights and blankets in vehicles in case of delays. The snow will taper late Monday night but cold air will linger into Tuesday, keeping slick spots likely in shaded valleys.
Another reinforcing cold shot late week could bring more light snow showers before Thanksgiving, keeping the Appalachians firmly in a November chill.
