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Weather

Grandfather Mountain March 2025 Weather Report; Drier-Than-Normal Conditions

April 28, 2025 March 2025 saw drier-than-normal conditions for the month on Grandfather Mountain, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations. The average high temperature for March 2025 was 47.47 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average low of 31.65 degrees and a mean of 39.56 degrees. The warmest temperature recorded last month was 62.1 degrees on March 12, almost 10 degrees shy of the mountain’s record March high of 72 degrees, observed March 30, 1985.

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Status of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail Six Months After Hurricane Helene

March 31, 2025 Over 45% of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail has reopened in the mountains in the six months after Hurricane Helene. This has been a collaboration across agencies and volunteer crews to tackle the unprecedented damage that Hurricane Helene caused. In the first weeks and months after the storm, a tremendous amount of work was done by National Park Service and US Forest Service staffs. These pros assessed the trail first and found that much of the damage was beyond even their training. Skilled professional crews and contractors were brought in to detangle the massive tree pile ups and create a narrow corridor of the trail route, oftentimes needing GPS to find the trail. Once the first pass was cut and certain areas were deemed safe for volunteers, our crews got to work.

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Grandfather Mountain February 2025 Weather Report Shows Fairly Standard Conditions

March 28, 2025 February 2025 saw fairly standard conditions for the month on Grandfather Mountain, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations. The average high temperature for February 2025 was 41.75 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average low of 26.09 degrees and a mean of 33.92 degrees. The warmest temperature recorded last month was 55.9 degrees on both Feb. 3 and Feb. 26, just over 8 degrees shy of the mountain’s record February high of 64 degrees, observed Feb. 22, 1977, and Feb. 15 and 16, 1989.

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Community Health Report Released for Watauga County from AppHealthCare

March 10, 2025 “AppHealthCare, in collaboration with various agencies and community partners, has released the Community Health Assessment for Watauga County. This report highlights community-identified public health priorities and provides a foundation for work that will take place in the following years. The Community Health Assessment report is published every four years in partnership with the Watauga Compassionate Community Initiative, Appalachian District Board of Health and AppHealthCare, including many other partnerships, individuals and agencies. The Community Health Assessment report follows a data-gathering and evaluation process involving the community to identify and analyze community health needs and assets. After completion, partners collaborate to strategically address the key health priorities and then implement the plan to address the unmet needs.

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Grandfather Mountain January 2025 Weather Report; Exceptionally Chilly Temperatures

March 3, 2025 January 2025 saw exceptionally chilly temperatures on Grandfather Mountain, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations. The average high temperature for January 2025 was 26.32 degrees Fahrenheit (the second-lowest on record), with an average low of 12.93 degrees (the sixth-lowest on record) and a mean of 19.63 degrees (the third-lowest on record). The warmest temperature recorded last month was 50.9 degrees on Jan. 31, just over 14 degrees shy of the mountain’s record January high of 65 degrees, observed on Jan. 30, 2002. Jan. 20 saw the coldest temperature recorded last month with minus 4.4 degrees.

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Ice Storm Outages Restored; Crews Continue Working to Restore Sunday’s Wind Outages

February 17, 2025 Blue Ridge Energy line technicians and assisting crews have completed restoration of all outages caused by last week’s ice storm, while crews continue working to restore the final nine outages caused by Sunday’s high wind gusts. Blue Ridge Energy thanks over 130 line technicians and tree workers who answered the call to help: New River Light and Power, Rutherford EMC, Energy United, Union Power Cooperative, Piedmont Electric, Four County EMC, Surry-Yadkin EMC, Randolph EMC, Pee Dee Electric, Pike Corp., Lucas Tree, Kendall Tree and Xylem.

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Blue Ridge Energy, Assisting Crews Continue 24/7 Restoration Efforts: Full Power Restoration Expected to Last into Weekend Due to Damage

February 14, 2025 After battling widespread, severe damage from Wednesday’s 20-hour period of freezing rain and ice accumulation, Blue Ridge Energy and assisting line technicians are working to restore power to the remaining 4,227 members as of 11 am Friday. Over 800 locations on the cooperative’s 8,000 miles of power line primarily in Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes and Watauga counties were damaged by the heavy icing tearing down trees and large limbs into power lines and breaking poles across the system. “Damage is widespread across four counties and what remains today is some of the worst damage we’ve seen from the storm,” said Renee Walker, director of public relations. “Due to the extent of damage, we project full restoration will take into this weekend,” she explained.

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Blue Ridge Energy and Visiting Crews Continue 24/7 Outage Restoration Efforts for the Remaining 7,816 Members Without Power as of 4:00 pm Thursday

February 13, 2025 A team of 120 Blue Ridge Energy line technicians and crews from sister cooperatives across North Carolina, along with contractors and other staff continue 24/7 power restoration efforts for the remaining 7,816 members impacted by the ice storm that began Wednesday morning. Over 800 locations on the cooperative’s 8,000 miles of power line primarily in Ashe, Alleghany and Watauga counties were damaged: downed trees and large limbs falling and tearing down power lines and breaking poles. As temperatures rose today, and ice fell from trees and power lines, it caused lines to “slap together” creating additional outages.

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Severe Damage: All Hands on Deck Effort to Restore Power – Multi-Day Outage Event Possible

February 12, 2025 Blue Ridge Energy line technicians, sister crews from cooperatives across North Carolina, electric contractors and tree trimmers are battling severe destruction to restore power to over 11,000 members in Ashe, Watauga and Alleghany counties Wednesday afternoon.  At this hour, ice accumulation is ongoing, worsening the effects on the grid. Heavy ice has caused widespread damage across the cooperative’s mountain service area. Crews are battling falling trees, powerlines weighed down by ice and continued winter weather to restore power.

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Blue Ridge Energy Crews Battling Ice to Restore Over 2,500 Outages as of 10 am Wednesday

February 12, 2025 Blue Ridge Energy line technicians and sister crews from neighboring cooperatives are battling icy conditions and downed power lines to restore power to over 2,500 members in Ashe, Watauga and Alleghany counties Wednesday morning. While precipitation has stopped, damage from early morning ice has brought down trees onto power lines, causing damage that is widespread across the cooperative’s mountain service area. Hardest hit areas include northern Ashe County along the Virginia line, eastern Watauga County including the Deep Gap community, and across Alleghany County. Assisting Blue Ridge Energy line technicians are an additional 12 crews – 24 line technicians – from neighboring cooperatives in North Carolina.

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The Day the Mountains Cried: One Woman’s Narrative of Surviving Helene Resonates with Regional Readers

February 11, 2025. Like many of us, Yancey County’s Lynda Smith lived through the devastating blows wrought by Hurricane Helene when it ravaged our mountains last September. And, as most of us do, she has memories that will haunt her for a lifetime. But, at the same time, compiling those recollections, along with her insights, hind sights and all the accompanying emotions in between, has proved to be healing. And those of us who “experienced Helene” and have read her book, can closely identify with much of what she has written. “No one expected the devastation that hurricane Helene brought to Western North Carolina,” Smith shared. “This is my story. A story of survival and hope.” And, so begins the easy-to-read, but at the same time a harrowing, page-turning account by Smith, whose long-time dream to retire in the mountains came true a short three years ago. ​ By Sherrie Norris

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Grandfather Mountain July 2024 Weather Report; Near-Record High Days of Precipitation

August 24, 2024 July 2024 saw a near-record high number of days of precipitation on Grandfather Mountain, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations. There were 25 days of at least trace amounts of recorded liquid precipitation (rain and the liquid equivalent of frozen precipitation, when applicable) for July 2024, one day short of the record 26 days in 1982 and matching 1994 and 2019.

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Grandfather Mountain June Weather Report; Second-Driest June on Record

July 31, 2024 June 2024 was the second-driest June on record for Grandfather Mountain, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations. The average high temperature for June 2024 was 65.34 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average low of 55.68 degrees and a mean of 60.51 degrees. The warmest temperature recorded last month was 74.5 degrees on June 26, more than 7 degrees shy of the mountain’s record June high of 82 degrees, observed June 1, 2011, and June 9, 2008. Generally, June sees spring-like weather conditions continue on Grandfather Mountain, with slightly warmer, summertime temperatures starting to arrive.

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Grandfather Mountain’s May Weather Report; It Was a Pretty Rainy Month

June 27, 2024 May 2024 was a pretty rainy month on Grandfather Mountain, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations. The weather station near the Swinging Bridge reported 9.90 inches of precipitation in May 2024, the seventh-highest total for this month on record. There were 24 days of at least trace amounts of recorded liquid precipitation (rain and the liquid equivalent of frozen precipitation, when applicable) for May 2024, one day short of the record 25 days in 2009 and matching 1986, 2020 and 2022.

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March Was a Fairly Blustery Month on Grandfather Mountain; 10.76 Degrees on the 19th

April 29, 2024 March 2024 was a fairly blustery month on Grandfather Mountain, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations. The average high temperature for March 2024 was 48.40 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average low of 32.68 degrees and a mean of 40.54 degrees. The warmest temperature recorded last month was 65.48 degrees on March 31, more than 6 degrees shy of the mountain’s record March high of 72 degrees, observed on March 30, 1985. March 19 saw the coldest temperature recorded last month with 10.76 degrees. A wind chill of minus 15.2 was noted that same day.

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Grandfather Mountain February 2024 Weather Report; Fairly Standard Conditions

March 29, 2024 February 2024 saw fairly standard conditions for the month on Grandfather Mountain, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations. The average high temperature for February 2024 was 43.63 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average low of 27.46 degrees and a mean of 35.55 degrees. The warmest temperature recorded last month was 51.8 degrees on Feb. 26, just over 12 degrees shy of the mountain’s record February high of 64 degrees, observed Feb. 22, 1977, and Feb. 15 and 16, 1989. Feb. 18 saw the coldest temperature recorded last month with 9.9 degrees. A wind chill of minus 12.47 was noted that same day

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Grandfather Mountain January Weather Report

March 1, 2024 January 2024 saw quite a bit of snowfall on Grandfather Mountain, as well as some blustery conditions, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations. The average high temperature for January 2024 was 34.30 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average low of 20.64 degrees and a mean of 27.47 degrees. The warmest temperature recorded last month was 53.2 degrees on Jan. 26, just under 12 degrees shy of the mountain’s record January high of 65 degrees, observed on Jan. 30, 2002.  Jan. 21 saw the coldest temperature recorded last month with minus 5.1 degrees. A wind chill of minus 34.41 was noted that same day.

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Grandfather Mountain’s 2023 Weather in Review

January 31, 2024  Grandfather Mountain is a rugged place known for its wild and fast-changing weather. While no records were set or broken in 2023, the year saw many noteworthy monthly totals, according to data collected at the nature park’s official weather reporting stations near the Mile High Swinging Bridge and Wilson Center for Nature Discovery. Some notable observations, and how they compare to Grandfather’s 69 years of recorded data, are included in the story.

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Grandfather Mountain December 2023 Weather Report; Quite a Bit of Rainfall Recorded

January 22, 2024  December 2023 saw quite a bit of rainfall on Grandfather Mountain, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations. The average high temperature for December 2023 was 40.41 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average low of 28.91 degrees and a mean of 34.66 degrees. The warmest temperature recorded last month was 52.7 degrees on Dec. 2, more than 10 degrees shy of the mountain’s record December high of 63 degrees, observed on Dec. 7, 1956. Generally, December sees winter weather conditions set in on Grandfather Mountain.

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Grandfather Mountain September 2023 Weather Report                                 

November 2, 2023 LINVILLE, N.C. – September 2023 saw fairly average weather on Grandfather Mountain, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations.The average high temperature for September 2023 was 62.06 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average low of 52.35 degrees and a mean of 57.21 degrees.The warmest temperature recorded last month was 74.5 degrees on Sept. 5, over four degrees shy of the mountain’s record September high of 79 degrees, observed Sept. 24, 2010. Generally, September sees fall weather conditions take hold on Grandfather Mountain, with cooler temperatures arriving.

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Tornado Touches Down in Avery County August 15

August 16, 2023 An extremely rare tornado has been confirmed to have touched down in Avery County this week by the National Weather Service’s regional headquarters in Greer, South Carolina, and by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a Washington, D.C.–based scientific and regulatory agency within the United States Department of Commerce charged with forecasting weather and monitoring atmospheric conditions. By Tim Gardner

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Grandfather Mountain June 2023 Weather Report

July 28, 2023 This past June was among the coolest on record on Grandfather Mountain, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations. The average high temperature for June 2023 was 61.16 degrees Fahrenheit, the third-lowest on record. The 68-year coolest average high temperature on record at Grandfather is 60.27 degrees in 1997. Meanwhile, the average low of 50.94 degrees was the eighth-lowest on record, while the mean of 56.05 degrees was the fifth-lowest on record for this month.

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Grandfather Mountain September 2022 Weather Report

October 20, 2022 LINVILLE, N.C. – September 2022 saw average weather on Grandfather Mountain, according to data recorded at the park’s official weather reporting stations. The average high temperature for September 2022 was 61.1 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average low of 49.2 degrees and a mean of 54.5 degrees.

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