ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Frigid Arctic air and gusty winds brought dangerous wind chills to Western North Carolina early Friday, while forecasters warned of increased fire danger later in the day and another round of light wintry weather overnight into Saturday.
The Asheville Fire Department urged residents to take cold-weather precautions, including keeping emergency kits at home and in vehicles, bringing pets indoors and checking on vulnerable neighbors. Officials warned that prolonged exposure to cold can lead to life-threatening conditions such as frostbite and hypothermia.
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg said dry conditions and breezy winds Friday afternoon will elevate fire weather concerns across the North Carolina Piedmont, South Carolina Upstate and northeast Georgia. Despite the dry air, a fast-moving system is expected to bring light snow and a brief wintry mix to the North Carolina mountains and nearby foothills late Friday into Saturday morning.
Forecasters said light snow accumulations are possible at higher elevations, which could cause minor travel issues. A separate system early next week may bring a slight chance of rain or snow east of the mountains, though impacts are expected to be minimal. Another cold air mass could settle over the region by midweek, with a possible cold weather advisory for parts of the mountains Monday night into Tuesday.
In the Asheville area, skies will be sunny Friday with a high near 46 degrees. A chance of snow showers is expected overnight, with a brief period of freezing rain or sleet possible early Saturday before changing to rain. Little to no accumulation is expected. Saturday will be mostly sunny with a high near 47.
Colder temperatures return Saturday night, with lows around 20, followed by a mostly sunny Sunday and a high near 34. Overnight lows are expected to dip into the teens by Sunday night. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is forecast to be sunny with a high near 40, before temperatures fall again Monday night, with lows near 10 degrees.