SnoJoe

6 minutes ago, snowbird1230 said:

Just got a report from NCDOT of 2" of snow on Cherohala Skyway in Graham County at 5000' ..Radar returns are verifying

Cold air is definitely sweeping in from the SW first. I'm at 38.9 but even the Sugar and Beech are still running in the low 40's. 

Ray is calling for 4 plus inches near the TN line Friday night. Nice little pre-Christmas gift!

37 minutes ago, The Alchemist said:

Off topic question...  Has anyone here been to the speedway in lights at Bristol?  Is it worth it? $15 a car... Thinking of taking the family tomorrow, thought I should get some opinions on the matter....

Having a family outing with your people at Christmastime is worth it. I'd go as high as 25 if there was ice cream involved afterwards.

On 12/15/2018 at 1:00 PM, Sw NC weather said:

Looks like we have a good chance of snow 12/21-12/22 on the backside of a apps runner low

On 12/16/2018 at 10:53 AM, Shack said:

Yeah, I think so. According to the 00z FV3, vertically stacked lows at all levels pass right over on Friday. Surface temps are warm, but at elevation there should be something to see. Hoping to visit friends in Highlands this weekend so I think we may go up a day early now.

Good call guys. GSP....

Developing northwest flow (gusty across the mtns) on the back side
of the system will advect colder air into the region supporting a
fairly rapid change over to snow across the mountains focused near
the TN border late Friday and continuing through part of Saturday
with shower activity rapidly ending east of the mountains.
Accumulating snowfall is likely across at least higher elevations
with advisory level snow a possibility.

Off topic a little, but who does the NWS write their forecast discussion for?  Surely it's not for the general public or people like us. 

2 hours ago, NavarreDon said:

Did any of you feel this? Around 4:15 am EST.

 

No one here did but I snore at a magnitude 4.6 so you wouldn't have been able to tell anyway.

I got to 36 degrees today but after last night's cold, this snow has locked up like cement. Tried to take a little walk today but you can't get through it. This is the type of stuff that would stay around forever if the temps were right. It's pretty much off the roads but the ice was rough almost all day in some areas. I've got an ice cycle hanging off one of my sheds that's about 4 ft. long and a good 2 ft. thick. I'm going shoot it with a shotgun tomorrow to see what happens.

1 hour ago, MikeGold said:

Interesting! I don't think the property is actually quite the high based on the topo maps that I looked at of that area when I researched the topic previously but will look again especially as I was looking at actual homes/subdivisions, not necessary more rustic means of living.   I know that certainly is one of the few areas where there are people living above mile in elevation.  I'm sure he must be a really interesting fellow and would no doubt have some good stories to tell!  I do know there are some private properties that are in holdings along the Blue Ridge parkway just South of Mt.Mitchell at 6000 feet but don't believe there are anybody living there. This is different area from Pensacola but not that far away.  Thanks!  (Edit:  As a follow-up I couldn't find where this gentlemen might live.  All the property at 6000 feet or above in that area is owned by the National Forest Service, the Conservation Fund, Mt. Mitchell State Park, or the Hemlock Campground holdings...no private holdings.  I suspect if he is indeed living at that elevation, it probably isn't legal?!(aka Alaska Bush People?)   Source.  Yancey Co GIS system.)  

You'd be surprised how many people live on what call they "govment" land. There have always been locals that will drift off into subsistence living. I'm sure the Park Service is aware that people do this and will throw them out when they stumble upon them. But this a really remote county, you can get lost here if you want too. I'm sure it's harder now than it use to be with more flatlanders moving in.

You can hike from Murchison up to Mt. Mitchell. It's not marked and you have to cross a lot of private land, but I've hiked it several times, mostly when I was young. There are places in there going up that side of the Blacks that I bet nobody has ever set foot on. This guy lives somewhere up towards Craig on the old Wilson property. 

Can you imagine how muddy it's going to be after the 3 to 4 inches of rain that GSP is calling for this weekend. Flooding could be an issue too if there is still a snowpack.

1 hour ago, MikeGold said:

One other thing and slightly off-topic but a topic that has been discussed here before.  The highest elevation home in North Carolina is currently for sale. (Unless you consider a ranger station a home..then it would be the one on Mt. Mitchell.)  It is a weather observer's dream home! Enjoy! http://carolinamountainproperties.net/search/mountain-property/north-carolina/jackson/beautiful-cabin-located-at-6000ft-elevation-for-sale-sylva/983124

I know a man that lives in a homemade cabin full time at 6200 ft on the old Wison property in Pensacola in southern Yancey County. Totally off grid, no generator, no solar, nothing. He digs gensing for money and only comes to town about 6 times a year. Just talked to him this summer.

Moderate snow. Temp actually rose overnight almost 2 degrees to 30.2. Looks like maybe 2 inches since it started back for a storm total of 16 so far. This has been a great weekend!

Snow has started back as well. Nice size flakes. Topped out at 14 with the first wave. Maybe another 3 or 4?

Just now, ncjoaquin said:

Very impressive!  Do you miss it all, or does the beach outweigh this?

I doubt it. He sits on the patio, sippin' on a margarita in his underwear by the pool with his laptop. 

5 minutes ago, BlueRidgeFolklore said:

Is that additional snow tonight?

WSW extended until noon tomorrow. GSP....

...While a brief lull is expected through late afternoon into the evening hours, precipitation will break out once again overnight. Additional snow will redevelop from the northwest, and freezing rain and sleet may mix in once again into Monday morning. Temperatures will be near or below freezing in many areas.

...After an early evening lull, snow showers will redevelop overnight. Some freezing rain or freezing drizzle, could mix in at times. Additional snow and sleet accumulations of 3 to 6 inches, and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch, are expected. Winds may gust to 30 mph at times.

17 minutes ago, Buckethead said:

I have 8" so far in Wolf.  And more importantly, I still have electricity.

Wow. I just measured over 12 here and still snowing. Looks like only another 30 minutes or so before it stops.

Is it suppose to fill back in later?

Only 2 inches here.........Nah, about a foot. I'll measure shortly. It must have flat out snowed overnight. Still moderate snow but the back edge looks to be rapidly approaching. Maybe it'll back build some later on. It's 24.4 here with a stiff breeze.

Finally picking up some here. Seems like I've been waiting since Monday for this! Looks to be a good one for most. Enjoy. The power issue sucks though and I'm afraid there might be more. As fragile is our power here is, a generator is a must. I think half of French Broad EMC grid is a bunch of extension cords strung through the trees.

Back home. Asheville's getting some nice snow. Just light flurries here. Once we got up Madison mountain it pretty much stopped. Really nice seeing all the Christmas lights in the snow around Biltmore. Love this time of year!

1 hour ago, Met1985 said:

Hey Joe its pouring the snow in Biltmore lol.

We're leaving in a few minutes. Looks like that's where we'll have to go to see snow. Not a flake here. Our driver said he was swapping vehicles because he was "concerned". LOL. I guess he'll get an extra bottle of booze for Christmas. Come eat with us if you're still in town!

Filtered sunshine here and just went above freezing for the first time in 7 days. Not a flake. Canceled a lot of plans for nothing so we're going to try to have a little treat. Made reservations for 8:30 at RuthChris in Biltmore with some friends to salvage the weekend. Nothing like a big medium-rare t-bone to forget about it! Congrats to those that are seeing snow!

A few flakes this morning and that's about it. Temps on the rise from a low of 27.8 to 31.3 here. Looks like my call of 4 to 6 here is definitely in play.

23 minutes ago, NavarreDon said:

 

Joe, I’ll bet you a bottle of Makers you exceed your predictions!


.

 

Ha! I'll be sippin' on some sauce later on this evening so I might take you up on it. Plus, I'm sure my post count goes up significantly by then.

You might be right though, but believe it not, my area acts weird when the moisture comes from the south. Seems like it takes forever to saturate. I track virga for hours. But yeah, it usually works out in the end. We'll see.

1 hour ago, AsheCounty48 said:

Blaming that on convection at the gulf, it looked good overall.

Gulf convection always disrupts the transport. I've heard it a hundred times after they say "we dodged the bullet" because of the thunderstorms down south. 

I'm a long way from the escarpment and that cuts totals here too. You can see the sharp cutoff near the TN line which is only 6 miles from me as the crow flies. I'm thinking maybe 4 to 6 for mby, GFS has me at 5. You foothills guys and girls are going to get crushed.

And now for a little color, a link to Rays call map.

http://grads.raysweather.com/modelData/event.png

To your point Ashe, I guess these are a few things we need to keep an eye on. I've seen all of these happen and sometimes all at the same time. From Ray.....

Caveats....
Factors that would limit snow totals: 1) latest computer guidance limits precipitation on the northern edge of the system, 2) relatively warm temperatures aloft have me nervous (mixing with sleet or freezing rain would greatly limit totals). 3) "Convective robbing" where thunderstorms along the Gulf Coast limit the transport of moisture northward can often be a factor in a system like this. 
 

34 minutes ago, Met1985 said:

I'm back gang! Let's do this!

Ok, so you came back to where you belong. Congrats?  At least now I have somebody to explain this crap to me. Welcome home Brother.

Flurries

Temp - 27.3