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Just as Advertised: Winter Storm Hits High Country, Weather-Related Briefs: Roads, Closings, Outages & More

 

Secondary roads still covered in Boone on Thursday morning. Photos by Ken Ketchie
Secondary roads still covered in Boone on Thursday morning. Photos by Ken Ketchie

 

Compiled by Jesse Wood

Weather-related briefs from around the High Country – Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

–         NCDOT Release at 8:30 a.m. – “Division 11 (Allegheny, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin counties) has 8-12 inches of snow. The snow had stopped, but it has resumed with the next front coming through. The primary routes are passable, but are partially covered. The secondary routes are covered, but we should make some headway today if the snow will stop since it is a good snow to push.”

–          Ray’s Weather Center posted preliminary snow total reports as of 7:30 a.m. Here they are: 7 to 13 inches in Northwestern North Carolina; 5 to 12 inches in the foothills; and 6 to 10 inches in southwestern North Carolina. But, it’s still snowing. Check out Ray’s Weather Center’s Facebook page and let them know how much snow has fallen in your neck of the woods.  

–          With all the colleges and county grade school closed in the High Country, Watauga County Communication Center tweeted, “Good day to stay home and catch a movie.” Check out all the closings here.

–          While N.C. Emergency Management reports 92,059 power outages in the state as of 7 a.m., Blue Ridge Electric Membership Cooperative posted an hour earlier on social media: “Very pleased to report NO outages for Blue Ridge Electric members now or overnight. Stay warm and stay safe today!”

–          The road conditions were described as “horrific” last night by 911 Watauga Communications Center. This morning N.C. Department of Transportation sent out an advisory to stay off the roads, so crews could improve the road conditions. “Currently, roadways across North Carolina are being affected by snow and ice,” the NCDOT website notes.

–          The winter storm warning from the National Weather Service doesn’t expire until 6 p.m. Thursday.

–          Gov. Pat McCrory has declared a state of emergency.

–          Something to look forward to: By the time this exuberance of the winter storm fades, come the middle of next week temperatures move into the 50s and 60s across the state.

  • Send us your photos from last night and this morning for a compilation of weather photos from around the High Country during this latest snowstorm. Post them on our Facebook page.
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Snow piles on Main Street in Downtown Blowing Rock
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    Sunset Drive in Blowing Rock
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    Plowing snow at the Meadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock
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    U.S. 321 bypass construction in Blowing Rock
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    The Farmhouse across the street from Tweetsie Railroad
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    A familiar sight around the High Country as people attempt to dig out their cars
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    U.S. 321 at Tweetsie Railroad at 10 a.m.
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    Man, that’s a lot of snow
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    U.S. 321 at Mustard Seed Market at 10 a.m.
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    U.S. 321 at the Parkway Bridge at 10 a.m.
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    Here’s a happy snow shoveler in Blowing Rock
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    More snow shoveling at Footsloggers in Blowing Rock
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    Street crews clearing snow on Main Street in Blowing Rock at 10:30 a.m. FIXE_0043

     

  • Working away to get the roads cleared in Blowing Rock
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Poplar Grove Road at 7:30 a.m.

 

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Making tracks at 7 a.m. on the back roads outside of Boone this morning.

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Truck casualty from last night waiting for rescue

 

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Cleaning up in Downtown Boone this morning

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King Street in Downtown Boone at 8:30 a.m.

Downtown Boone on Thursday morning.

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ASU maintenance workers clearing steps on campus

ASU campus

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Rivers Street on ASU’s campus at 8:30 this morning

Rivers Street

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U.S. 321 leading into ASU

U.S. 321

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Snow covered trees at the Sagebrush in Boone

 

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Snow piled up at the Boone Mall

 

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Mountains of snow at the Boone Mall at 8:30 this morning

 

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Parking lot at the Boone Mall is flooded, but this time with snow

 

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The little tractor that could as ASU maintenance plows ahead with snow clearing

 

The secondary roads are still covered, while the road crews work to maintain the main roads. Photos by Ken Ketchie
N.C. 105 at Ingalls at 7:30 this morning