NEWLAND, N.C. – Snow continues to blanket the higher elevations of western North Carolina early Monday, bringing hazardous travel, gusty winds, and isolated power outages across the mountains through Tuesday morning. Total snow accumulations are expected to range from 1 to 4 inches in the valleys to 6 inches or more above 3,500 feet, with the highest peaks along the Tennessee border possibly topping 10 inches.
According to the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg, Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect until 7 a.m. EST Tuesday for Avery, Yancey, Madison, Mitchell, Haywood, and Graham Counties. Snow bands intensified overnight as colder air swept in behind a passing front, with strong northwest winds gusting to 45 mph leading to blowing and drifting snow on exposed ridgelines.
Road crews report snow-covered highways and limited visibility along U.S. 19E, U.S. 221, and the Blue Ridge Parkway, where travel is discouraged until conditions improve. The combination of heavy, wet snow and strong winds has also led to tree damage and scattered power outages, particularly in elevated communities like Burnsville, Banner Elk, and Newland.
Forecasters expect the snow to taper after sunrise Tuesday as drier air moves in from the west, but subfreezing temperatures will keep roads icy into the morning commute.
