...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST FRIDAY... * LOCATIONS...MAINLY ALONG AND WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE. * HAZARD TYPES...HEAVY WET SNOW. * ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 5 TO 10 INCHES WITH LOCAL ONE FOOT AMOUNTS OVER THE HIGHER MOUNTAINS.
That is from the NWS for Boone, Banner Elk, Beech Mountain and north through the Virginia and WV Mountains. There's some tweaking to the warnings with most of the heavier snow south of Winterplace, however I wouldn't rule out Snowshoe, Canaan and Timberline also getting in on the act. Light snow began falling in WV and VA earlier before the heavy snow squalls began here in Western NC.
It has quickly covered the ground that was already saturated with close to 5" of RAIN over the previous five days. Heavy rains fell earlier on Thursday and now it is ALL SNOW!
Some forecasters such as Brad Panovich are warning that amounts will be somewhat less than some weather gurus are forecasting. However at this time HEAVY snow is falling!
The local NWS out of Blacksburg, VA is forecasting 6-10" of snow and others are forecasting 3-6" of snow with higher 6-10" amounts around Beech Mountain and perhaps over towards Cataloochee Ski area.
We'll post up early in the AM with photos and more news and the results of what fell.