ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for Avery County and elevations above 3,500 feet in Yancey and Mitchell counties until 1 a.m. Tuesday, as snow continues to fall across the higher elevations of Western North Carolina.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service said an upper-level trough and a passing surface wave will keep snow showers over the mountains through late Monday afternoon and early evening before conditions begin to dry out. An additional 1 to 2.5 inches of snow is expected in advisory areas, while locations above 3,500 feet outside the advisory may see an extra half-inch to 1 inch.
Temperatures across the mountains are running 10 to 15 degrees below normal, with widespread cloud cover preventing much daytime warming.
A cold rain is expected to linger across mountain valleys, the foothills and the Piedmont through late afternoon, with sleet or wet snow mixing in at times. Drier conditions are forecast for Monday night, but officials warn that slippery roads could be an issue for the Tuesday morning commute anywhere that received accumulating snowfall.
High pressure building in from the north will usher in colder, drier air overnight, keeping temperatures at or below freezing.
As of late Monday morning, snowfall totals included 4 inches in Maggie Valley at 11:11 a.m., 1.5 inches in Canton at 10:52 a.m., and 2.3 inches in Little Switzerland at 9:07 a.m.