The National Weather Service is able to provide more information daily on the upcoming winter storm as the system gets closer to Western North Carolina.
A system of wintry weather is headed to WNC on Friday, Jan. 10. It may bring a variety of hazards – but meteorologists had good news for the Citizen Times as of Jan. 8.
“We are planning on it just being all snow North Carolina mountains,” said NWS Meteorologist Chris Horne, based in Greer, South Carolina.
Previous forecasts showed uncertainty as to the nature of the precipitation, with potential for sleet, freezing rain and ice hazards. Here’s what else we know.
How much will it snow in Asheville? Hendersonville?
Horne said that snow chances are becoming definite in WNC and Asheville as Friday wears on, especially Friday afternoon. The NWS is expecting 3-4 inches in much of Asheville and Hendersonville.
“That continues into the Friday night period, but wrapping up pretty quickly by daybreak on Saturday,” Horne said.
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Where will it snow in NC?
The winter weather is expected to affect all of WNC – but Horne said that some areas likely will see more than others.
“The further west of Asheville that you get during this event, because it’s coming from the southwest, those are where the heavier amounts will be, you can see some of the valleys, like Franklin to Cullowhee, you may get 4 or 5 inches,” Horne said.
Higher elevations in isolated spots including areas above Highlands, along the Smoky Mountains and parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway could get closer to 6-8 inches.
Weather hazards Friday?
While Horne said that the N.C. mountains are now expected to see only snow, hazard alerts still remain for the area.
A hazardous weather outlook issued at 6:08 a.m. on Jan. 8 called for wintry precipitation developing across much of the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia Friday afternoon through early Saturday. The outlook said that “significant accumulations are possible” throughout the regions.
Buncombe, Transylvania and Henderson counties are included in the hazard alert
Ice crystals on a car window as sun rises in Anderson, S.C. Tuesday, January 7, 2024.
Asheville weekend forecast
On Friday, snow is likely mainly after 4 p.m. according to the NWS website. As of Jan. 8, the chance of precipitation is 60%. Weather will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Calm wind will become south southeast 5-7 mph in the afternoon.
On Friday night, the chance of precipitation rises to 90%, with snow mainly before 5 a.m. and a low around 26.
On Saturday, a 30% chance of snow remains before 7 a.m. Weather will be mostly sunny, with a high near 34. Saturday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 16.
By Sunday, weather will be clear, with a high near 43 during the day and a low of around 20 Sunday night.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville, Western NC snow forecast: Up to 8 inches Jan. 10