Dangerous weather heads to NC mountains, with ‘big time snow,’ forecasters say

“Big time snow” is headed for North Carolina’s mountains, with some peaks expected to get 18 inches by Tuesday morning, according to National Weather Service.

The dangerous weather is linked to a quick-moving arctic air mass bringing below freezing temperatures to most of the state on Monday night, forecasters say.

Hypothermia and frostbite are possible for people who risk prolonged exposure in the mountains, experts say.

The first round of snow reached mountains along the North Carolina-Tennessee state line late Sunday, the NWS said.

“More than a foot of snow appears likely across the higher elevations of the Smokies,” the NWS reported in a Nov. 9 Facebook post.

“There’s been a lot of chatter about the incoming snow, but don’t forget that with snow comes very cold temperatures. ... Wind chill values will be in the single digits over a good portion of the mountains Monday night, with the highest elevations dropping below 0°F.”

Snow flurries could extend along the Interstate 40 corridor as far east as Greensboro, with less than one-tenth of an inch of accumulation, NWS forecasters said.

As of 7:30 a.m. Monday, Grandfather Mountain was reporting gusts of more than 50 mph, and a wind chill of minus 12 degrees, the NWS reported.

“Winds will pick up out of the northwest (Monday) tonight as gusts of 35-45 mph are possible, especially at elevations above 3500 feet,” NWS Forecasters say.

Overnight gusts could reach between 36 and 44 mph in parts of Yancey and Avery counties, experts say.

The snow forecast prompted Great Smoky Mountains National Park to close multiple roads, including the US441/Newfound Gap Road, which serves as the main road traversing the park from Tennessee to North Carolina.

Temperatures will rebound Wednesday and beyond, with drier weather expected the rest of the week, forecasters say.

This story was originally published November 10, 2025 at 7:42 AM with the headline "Dangerous weather heads to NC mountains, with ‘big time snow,’ forecasters say."