ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Asheville, N.C., and the rest of the western North Carolina mountains are headed for the coldest stretch of the season so far this weekend, though the snow some forecasters hinted at earlier in the week now looks unlikely to amount to much.
Earlier forecasts paired the incoming cold with rain, and by midweek forecasters had worked in a chance of snow mixing with that rain. Even then, they cautioned that little if any would stick. By Thursday, the odds of a white weekend had dropped again, with the overall chance of precipitation down to about 20%.
The latest National Weather Service forecast for the Asheville Regional Airport calls for a slight chance of rain and snow early Friday, then a mostly cloudy afternoon with a high near 43 and gusty north-northwest winds that could top 30 mph. Little or no snow accumulation is expected.
Friday night brings a 30% chance of rain, mainly in the evening, and a low around 29.
The real bite comes Saturday. Skies clear, but the high only reaches the low 40s, and Saturday night is forecast to fall into the mid-20s under mostly clear skies. Sunday turns sunny with a high near 50 before another night in the 20s.
A warming trend follows next week, with sunshine and highs climbing back into the 50s and 60s by Wednesday and Thursday.
Snow this early is not unheard of in the mountains, but it is uncommon. Federal weather records going back to 1869 show November is usually the first month when snow is likely in the Asheville area, and only about 5 inches have been recorded in October across all those years combined.
With temperatures dropping well below freezing, it is a good weekend to bring pets inside, cover tender plants and check on outdoor pipes.
Filed under: Asheville NC Weather News
