Weather Alert: Major Winter Storm to Impact the Region ThisWeekend

The following alert impacting the Smoky Mountains region is from the National Weather Service:

Cold high pressure along the East Coast will interact with a moist low pressure system moving out of the Gulf of Mexico Saturday night into Sunday. Moderate to heavy precipitation will fall as a mixture of snow, sleet, and freezing rain across the region. Accumulations are expected to be greatest in western North Carolina. Temperatures will be cold enough across northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia for precipitation to begin as a mixture of rain, snow, and sleet in lower elevations, with mainly snow in the mountains. The best lift and moisture will arrive on Saturday night and continue through Sunday, with significant snow accumulations possible.

…WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY MORNING…

* WHERE…The mountains and foothills of western North Carolina, along and west of the Blue Ridge Escarpment. The highest snow and sleet accumulations are expected to be at high elevations along the Escarpment.

* WHAT…Heavy mixed precipitation possible. Total snow and sleet accumulations of 1 to 8 inches are possible. Ice accumulations up to two tenths of an inch are also possible.

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* WHERE…Southwest Virginia and the mountains of East Tennessee and southwest North Carolina.

* WHAT…Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 15 inches possible.

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* WHEN…From Saturday evening through Monday morning.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Travel could become very difficult or even impossible. Road conditions could deteriorate as early as Saturday evening, with highway travel continuing to be impacted through early next week. Widespread, prolonged power outages are possible.

For the latest updates and forecasts, please click here.

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
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Ramble On: A History of Hiking The Smoky Mountain Hiker is the author of the Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog and the online trail guide, HikingintheSmokys.com

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