Lately our weather pattern could seemingly be the reference material for both sides of a Global Warming debate. One side could argue, “Yesterday the High Country experienced temperatures that were nearly ten degrees warmer than normal.” (15° warmer than normal on the low temp.) The other side could argue, “Today we are seeing temperatures that are 12° colder than normal on the high temp and right on the money regarding the historical low average of 22°”
That is the way it’s been all season. A cold start, followed by a pattern of three to four mild days, then one or two cold blasts, followed by more mild temps. We’re still stuck in that pattern as today is cold and snowy with VERY COLD temps. Thursday will VERY Spring-like with sunny skies and temperatures in excess of 50° in many locations. (Upper 40s at the highest elevations.)
We saw more than 2” of rain yesterday in many locations with the bulk of it hitting after the sun went down. Almost an inch of rain fell at Beech Mountain, 1.46” of rain fell in Banner Elk, 1.47” at Sugar Mountain, 1.54” in Blowing Rock. That would normally spell doom for the ski resorts as they were already looking pretty ragged. However, the snow that feel overnight and that is still falling as of this report this morning, combined with the blast of snowguns across the state, are blanketing what would otherwise be bad conditions. A little snow can make a huge difference.
The records for this date are 63° back in 1995 for a high and minus 8° in 2003 for the low. Many forecasters are saying that it appears that we’ll be getting into a more normal pattern of steady cold air around the end of the month, to the first of February. That has been the subject of many of our messageboard posts and emails. February looks to be good.
Here’s the forecast for today:
Wednesday…Mostly cloudy with numerous snow showers this morning…Then partly cloudy with a chance of flurries this afternoon. Total snow accumulation 1 to 2 inches. Very windy. Highs near 30° West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. Chance of snow 70 percent. Overnight lows in the upper 20s. Good snowmaking again tonight!
Thursday…Mostly sunny. Milder with highs in the low to mid 50s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Overnight lows in the low to mid 30s
Friday…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 30s. Highs in the mid 50s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday…Showers likely. Highs in the mid 50s. Chance of rain 70 percent.
Sunday…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. Highs around 50.
Until Next Time!
Check out www.HighCountryWeather.com for more information and also be sure to check out www.SkiSoutheast.com for more weather information about ski resorts to the north!
Be sure to email photos, snow reports and comments to: [email protected]