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Weather Watch: Winter storm could hit Western North Carolina this weekend
What we covered here
- Expected potential snowfall: Four inches of snow in some places in the region. The most significant snow potential would be over the mountains, over the northern foothills and Northwest Piedmont of North Carolina, along north Interstate 40.
- Potential impacts: Hazardous driving conditions, power outages, and potential for below freezing temperatures in higher elevations that last days after the storm is done.
Utilities and local governments prep for potential winter weather
A winter storm headed to WNC this weekend could create problems for the region's infrastructure. Although the predictions for how intense the storm will be are still unclear, officials say power outages and water line breaks are possible.
Jeffrey Brooks, a spokesperson with Duke Energy, told BPR that the power company is preparing for “the potential of outages” in the area.
“We will be evaluating whether we need to bring in additional crews,” he said. “We haven't made a decision on that yet.”
As forecasts grow more accurate over the next few days, the threat to the tree canopy, and subsequently, power lines will become more clear, Brooks said.
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Potential significant winter weather is possible for WNC this weekend
The potential for a significant winter weather event across Western North Carolina this weekend is increasing, according to the National Weather Service.
Precipitation — including snow or freezing rain — could move into the region beginning Friday night, Jan. 23, or Saturday, Jan. 24.
“ Over the mountains it looks like a high probability that it's going to fall as snow or possibly sleet,” Patrick Moore of the National Weather Service, Greenville-Spartanburg office told BPR. “East of the mountains it’s a lot trickier because of what time the cold air makes it and what time the precipitation arrives. It's really looking like a tricky situation where we could have snow, sleet, and freezing rain in parts of Western North Carolina.”
Moore adds the NWS expects to have a full picture of the storm by Thursday to determine the system timing, temperatures, precipitation amounts and where the storm will have the greatest impact.
Forecast models can change and residents are encouraged to start preparing ahead of time. Moore recommends that people monitor the NWS website and their social media for the latest updates.
- Expected potential snowfall: Four inches of snow in some places in the region. The most significant snow potential would be over the mountains, over the northern foothills and Northwest Piedmont of North Carolina, along north Interstate 40.
- Potential impacts: Hazardous driving conditions, power outages, and potential for below freezing temperatures in higher elevations that last days after the storm is done.