ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Western North Carolina will get a brief taste of warmer weather this weekend before another blast of Arctic air moves in, bringing dangerously cold wind chills and the potential for isolated power outages, forecasters said Friday.
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg said snow flurries lingering across mountain counties Friday morning were expected to taper off by midday as temperatures inch slightly higher. Highs are forecast to reach around 50 degrees in Asheville with gradual clearing.
A short-lived warmup arrives Saturday, with sunshine and temperatures near the upper 50s. But conditions will deteriorate Saturday night as an Arctic front approaches, increasing the chance of precipitation and ramping up northwest winds.
The front is expected to sweep through early Sunday, delivering powerful gusts — potentially 40 mph on the highest peaks — and ushering in the coldest air of the season. Single-digit lows are likely in the mountains Sunday night, with teens across the foothills and Piedmont. Wind chills at higher elevations could fall below zero, the National Weather Service said.
Forecasters say confidence is growing that wind and cold-weather advisories may be issued as the system arrives. Gusty winds Sunday could also lead to sporadic power outages in mountain communities.
The cold snap is expected to ease by the middle of next week.
Asheville forecast
- Friday: Mostly cloudy early, then clearing. High near 50.
- Friday night: Mostly clear, low around 29.
- Saturday: Sunny, high near 58.
- Saturday night: Increasing clouds, low around 25; slight chance of rain late.
- Sunday: Mostly sunny, high near 34; windy with gusts up to 40 mph.
- Sunday night: Clear and frigid, low around 8.