With fluctuating temperatures following the official start of the fall season in 2024, the first rumors of snow are circulating Nov. 19.
This may seem unlikely, with a high of 70 degrees expected Wednesday, Nov. 20. However, the National Weather Service told the Citizen Times that it’s not completely out of the question.
Here’s what forecasts are showing so far, and what we know about the chance of snow in the Asheville area.
A dusting of snow covers autumn leaves in Maggie Valley, October16, 2024.
Is it going to snow in Asheville?
NWS Meteorologist Ashley Rehnberg explained to the Citizen Times that a few factors could lead to snow in the area this Thursday night, Nov. 21, through early Friday morning, Nov. 22, beginning with a northwest flow developing behind an incoming cold front.
“As the cold front kind of lifts off, and the flow lifts off to into the Northeastern United States, we’re going to have basically northwest flow on the mountains, and typically that’s upslope flow. So, temperatures could be cold enough for a rain-snow mix.”
Rehnberg added, however, that the chance is still low, at 25% or less for wintry weather — and currently, only a mixture is predicted, not true snow.
“You might just see some flurries reach the ground within the rain,” Rehnberg said.
Is it going to snow in Western NC?
While the chance is lower for Asheville proper, certain areas of Western North Carolina have a higher chance of seeing some snow accumulate.
NWS Meteorologist Steve Wilkinson said that Northwest-facing slopes along the N.C.-Tennessee border, particularly areas above 3,500 feet, have the best chance of accumulation.
“A lot of those areas, we have 1 to 2 inches, but could definitely see some locally heavier amounts,” Wilkinson said. “There’s been a few areas where we’ve seen could pick up more than 2 inches, likely 3 to possibly up to 6.”
Wilkinson added that these areas with predictions of heavier accumulation would be places like Roan Mountain in Tennessee, which are typically more prone to seeing heavier snow.
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Asheville weekend forecast Thursday-Friday
As for the rest of the forecast currently listed on the NWS website, meteorologists call for mostly sunny weather on Thursday, Nov. 21, with a high near 48 degrees. Thursday night, the chance of precipitation mentioned by Rehnberg will come between 9 p.m.-4 a.m., with a chance of rain showers continuing after 4 a.m. Low temperature is around 31 degrees.
On Friday, Nov. 22, weather is predicted to be mostly sunny with a high near 44 degrees. Friday night’s forecast calls for mostly cloudy weather, with a low of around 34 degrees.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville, Western NC snow: Up to 6 inches possible Nov. 21, 22
