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Winter’s Last Gasp Cancels Grade Schools Tuesday, More Snowfall and Accumulation Expected Through Midnight

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Laurel Creek in Western Watauga on Tuesday. Photo by Jesse Wood

By Jesse Wood

March 25, 2014. Meteorologists are now calling for more snow than initially forecasted for this latest snowstorm – as the National Weather Service wrote on its Facebook page: “Winter’s last gasp appears destined to bring more snow to the region than earlier expected.”

This morning the National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory on the increasing likelihood of more snow for Ashe, Avery and Watauga. It went into effect at 6:30 a.m. and expires at midnight. 

The majority of the 2 to 4 inches of new snow accumulation is expected to fall between two different timeframes: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to midnight on Tuesday. The advisory also warned of low wind chill readings early Wednesday morning due to unseasonably cold temperatures and strong, gusty northwest winds.

Now as for last night…

According to snow totals from RaysWeather.com, Beech and Sugar Mountain saw 4 inches of snowfall, while 2.5 inches accumulated in Boone during the last 24 hours.

This brings the total so far for 2013-14, according to Ray’s Weather, to:

  • Beech Mountain: 69.2
  • Sugar Mountain: 80.5
  • Boone: 32.5

Schools

Avery County Schools and Watauga County Schools closed for students on Tuesday. When both school systems missed school in the second week of March, both systems noted that spring break hadn’t been affected yet.

But Martha Davis, a spokeswoman for ACS, noted two weeks ago that if another day were to be missed, “it may alter our spring break or we will consider Saturday school.”

While Watauga County Schools has scheduled make-up days on Saturday, ACS has gone a different route – adding on 30 minutes to the school days during the week. 

WCS spokesman Marshall Ashcraft noted on Tuesday morning that today’s cancellation does not affect spring break and that no Saturday school will be held later in the week. Davis hasn’t been reached as of Tuesday morning. 

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A vantage point from Apple Creek Road in Watauga. Photo by Ken Ketchie

Check out NWS video briefing of latest weather events: 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr1ASdfbNdM [/youtube]