Wildfire risk lingers as cold front brings winds, chance of snow to WNC

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — While the National Weather Service warned of elevated risks for wildfires, the forecast also called for a chance of snow.

A cold front is expected to bring a little moisture and lots of wind to the Asheville area Thursday afternoon and night. Wind gusts of 35-50 mph are expected across the mountains, the National Weather Service said. Meanwhile, it is still extremely dry in WNC and the fire danger is still high. Low relative humidity and occasional gusty winds will enhance the fire danger across the area for much of the next week, with dangerous fire conditions possible Saturday.

A cold front crossing the region Thursday morning is expected to produce a quick shot of showers, with accumulating high-elevation snow showers expected Thursday afternoon into Thursday night before conditions dry out again Friday morning, the National Weather Service said.

With colder air filtering in behind the front, temperatures will gradually fall near or below freezing Thursday afternoon into the evening. This will allow rain showers to gradually transition to snow showers. Snowfall totals from 1-3 inches will be mainly confined to elevations above 3,500 feet, although half an inch to an inch of snow should fall in the valleys along/near the North Carolina/Tennessee border, the National Weather Service said. The highest snowfall amounts are expected to fall across the Smokies, with 4-6 inches expected. Locally higher amounts will be possible, especially above 4,000 feet.

Some light snow or flurries may spill into northern Jackson County, southern Haywood County and southern Buncombe County in the evening. However, no accumulations are expected. Snow should taper off before daybreak Friday.

The next significant chance for rain will be early next week when another front is expected to impact the region.

A Wind Advisory is in effect for the North Carolina mountains from 8 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Friday.

The next significant chance for rain will be early next week when another front is expected to impact the region.