ASHEVILLE – Many mountain school systems have closed, and some city services have been delayed or suspended in Asheville, as snow descended in much of Western North Carolina early in the morning Dec. 2.

By 7 a.m., the Asheville Regional Airport received a measurable snowfall of 0.1 inches, breaking a “snow drought” for a city that’s only received trace amounts so far this winter, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Kimball.

City and weather officials warned of the possibility of black ice, especially as temperatures drop this evening, Dec. 2. Asheville street teams have been on the roads since early morning hours, gritting streets, a news release said. They witnessed several accidents caused by black ice and asked the community to drive with caution, especially those in high elevations. 

Here’s what NWS is saying about winter weather across the mountains, as well as this week’s temperatures in the teens.

How much snow fell in the area, and which places got the most snow?

Surrounding Asheville, most of Buncombe County saw a trace to a half inch of snow through 7 a.m., according to Kimball. Just south, Henderson County had a few trace reports of snow.

Other areas across WNC received much more, up to several inches:

• Vance Gap got roughly 6 inches.
• High elevations across the Smoky Mountains up through Avery County received 2 to 4 inches.
• A report near Beech Mountain clocked 3.5 inches.
• Mitchell had a report of 3.1 inches.
• Yancey County varied from 1.5 to 2.5 inches.

“It’s quite variable along the Tennessee border where we had that upslope flow,” Kimball said.

“There’s one site up near Wolf Laurel in Madison County that they often get the highest totals it seems like in these events. It had over 8 inches of snow total so far – that’s the highest report we’ve gotten.”

Is more snow expected?

Snow totals may increase when gauges update data later in the day, due to some continued snowfall after 7 a.m. However, very little, if any, snow accumulations are expected through the rest of the day Dec. 3, Kimball said.

“Things are really tapering off,” Kimball said. “Most of what’s falling now, it looks like it’s just flurries.”

Another cold front is expected to move through the region on Thursday, Dec. 5, but it won’t bring much moisture with it, according to Kimball.

“There could be some snow showers late Wednesday night into Thursday morning,” Kimball said, adding that it’s expected strictly near the Tennessee border.

“We’re only forecasting mainly just a dusting or so across those highest elevations.”

Asheville, most likely, won’t see any snow as the week continues.

Will the snow stick around today, Dec. 3?

Though it’s hard to say if the snow lining the ground across WNC will stick throughout the day, Kimball said the best way is to “infer from the temperatures.”

In the Asheville area, NWS is expecting highs in the mid-30s, indicating some of the snow will likely melt once the clouds clear out. However, higher elevations “won’t even get above freezing,” Kimball said.

“A lot of it will probably stick though tonight, but we have a decent warm up tomorrow, so a lot of snow will probably melt tomorrow,” Kimball said.

The highest elevations in the region could see the snow linger through the next few days.

NWS issues hazardous weather outlook for Western NC

A hazardous weather outlook was issued by the NWS at 3:46 a.m. Dec. 3 for practically all of WNC, including the following counties:

• Avery
• Madison
• Yancey
• Mitchell
• Swain
• Haywood
• Buncombe
• Catawba
• Graham
• Jackson
• Macon
• Transylvania
• Henderson
• McDowell mountains and eastern McDowell

During the day and overnight Dec. 3, the outlook warned of icy roads at higher elevations and in areas that received accumulating snow, including the North Carolina Piedmont. The Piedmont accounts for the central part of the state just east of the Appalachian Mountains.

The outlook also called for cold weather to continue through midweek. A hard freeze is likely each morning through Wed., Dec. 4.

Temperatures in the teens to come this week: December begins below normal

After a warm November – sitting at five degrees above normal for the month – December started “quite a bit below normal.”

“And we’re expecting below normal temperatures through the next few days,” Kimball added.

Overnight Dec. 3, Asheville is forecasted to drop to 18 degrees, with areas across the mountains expected to make it close to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Kimball. The high on Dec. 4 should get up near 50 degrees before dropping to around freezing Wednesday night.

As a cold front moves through in the morning Dec. 5, Asheville’s temperatures will be in the low 40s on Thursday and “then back in the teens on Thursday night,” Kimball said. The low in Asheville overnight Dec. 5 is forecasted to reach 17 degrees.

Weather impacts to Asheville services

The winter weather has not only closed some school systems, but also impacted some city of Asheville services, including:

• Asheville Rapid Transit: ART is currently suspending service. Teams will continue to assess road conditions with the aim of resuming service today (Dec. 3) as soon as road conditions are safe.
• All services are currently delayed until road conditions improve.
• Childcare sites open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Tempie Avery Montford Community Center for Asheville City Schools students and Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center for Buncombe County Schools students.

Some community centers have closed, others are operating during adjusted hours with cancelled programs and athletics. Check the full list here: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/news/weather-impacts-to-city-of-asheville-services/

Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. She is a graduate of Indiana University and was the Citizen Times Summer News Reporting Intern in 2022. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober

Democrats in the state Senate elected a new minority leader Monday.

State Sen. Sydney Batch will replace longtime state Sen. Dan Blue as minority leader next year in the chamber, where Republicans recently retained a supermajority. Blue had held the position for years but declined to pursue it again Monday after “taking the temperature” of the caucus, he told WRAL News late Monday.

“I did check out how people were really feeling,” said Blue, D-Wake. “They are ready for a new direction.” Batch will “strengthen the caucus” as minority leader, he added.

Senate Democrats announced the change in leadership in a statement to the media.

Batch, who last month won a second term representing southern Wake County, thanked Blue for his leadership.

“It is an honor to be chosen by my colleagues to lead the Senate Democratic Caucus during such a pivotal time for our state,” Batch said in the statement.

“North Carolinians are counting on us to protect their rights, expand opportunity, and fight for policies that prioritize people over politics,” she continued. “Our Caucus remains focused on creating a North Carolina where every resident can build the life they want for their families and themselves, and we are ready to work to get North Carolina back on the right track.”

The caucus also reelected Sen. Jay Chaudhuri of Wake County as Minority Whip and Sen. Julie Mayfield of Buncombe County as caucus secretary.