Blue skies dominated the state of the weather on Friday afternoon, which turned into a great ‘snow day’ for children with schools being out to close the weekend. On Saturday, the temperature will be cold but slightly warmer. Plus, the sun should be out on Saturday before clouds and rain return on Sunday. Here are some pictures depicting how beautiful the day was on Friday.
By Jesse Wood • Photos by Ken Ketchie
Here are some photos the morning after last night’s snowstorm in the High Country, which received about 4 to 7 inches of snow, according to RaysWeather.com. By Jesse Wood • Photos by Ken Ketchie
With a couple hours before the storm is expected to begin, RaysWeather.com posted on Facebook, “It’s clear from radar that this storm will not disappoint. Right now I have more ‘upside’ fear than ‘downside.’” The latest forecast accumulation map from RaysWeather.com is calling for 5 to 7 inches in the vast majority of Avery and Watauga counties. By Jesse Wood • Photos by Ken Ketchie
Feb. 25, 2015. Before the snow from the last storm late Monday and early Tuesday has a chance to melt, Mother Nature has some more in store for us beginning Wednesday evening. Forecasts from RaysWeather.com and the regional National Weather Service office range from 3 to 7 inches, depending on the locale and elevation in the High Country. By Jesse Wood
Feb. 24, 2015. The amount of accumulation this morning was a bit of a surprise. Forecasts were revised and the roads were a slushfest. RaysWeather.com noted that one to three inches of snow covered the region at sunrise and more snow continued to fall throughout the morning. RaysWeather.com expects one to four inches throughout the daytime – with four to six inches at higher elevations and along the western escarpment. By Jesse Wood • Photos by Ken Ketchie
Feb. 20, 2015. For the second day in a row, the weather was record breaking. On Friday morning, residents of the High Country – and beyond – woke up to subzero temperatures and record lows for Feb. 20. Several of the towns or communities experienced temperatures for this date – Feb. 20 – that haven’t been felt in decades or, at least in one case, more than a century. By Jesse Wood
Feb. 20, 2015. Once the wind chills subside, then a National Weather Service winter-storm watch goes into effect late Friday night through late Saturday night. The meteorologists at RaysWeather.com are “thinking one to four inches” of accumulation before the snow turns into a wintry mix and then into rain on Saturday night. By Jesse Wood • Photos by Ken Ketchie
Feb. 20, 2015. Historic low temperatures caused members of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation to set a peak high record for electricity demand due to heating needs. Early Friday, the cooperative’s nearly 74,000 members used 383 megawatts of electricity, which is over 10 percent higher than normal.