News

Spring forward — even if winter is back

By Bill Moss, Published: March 10, 2018

While daylight saving time may bring spring to mind, winter weather is stubbornly hanging on, bringing snow to our west and feezing overnight lows.

An updated forecast from the National Weather Service Saturday afternoon predicted that the snow would mainly accumulate in counties west of Asheville.

"Initially it's going to be coming into area just a little bit warmer" than first projected, said meteorologist Harry Gerapetritis. "Any precipitation that falls tonight and through tomorrow should just be a cold rain. The issue is going to start tomorrw night, when we're going to have some colder air develop and should see snow and ice across higher peaks Sunday night. By early Monday and by mid morning we could see that change over to completely snow and maybe even reach down to the lower valleys" of counties to our west. Higher elevations in Avery, Yancey and Mitchell counties could see 4-6 inches.

Snow and ice is not expected to reach Henderson County, where the National Weather Service is predicting zero snow accumulation.

"It's going to be really strongly elevation dependent," Gerapetritis said. "I think most of Henderson County should see this as a cold rain. If we do have that occur it will probably be a dusting at best." There's a chance of black ice Monday night and early Tuesday, with lows dropping to 28.

The first day of daylight saving time will look like just another dreary winter day. There's a 90 percent chance of rain and highs should reach only around 47. The low Sunday night will be around 34. The rain continues Monday, then even colder weather sets in through midweek, with lows around 25 Tuesday and Wednesday nights and highs only around 40 both days. The relief comes Thursday and Friday, with highs of 52 and 61 under sunny skies.

Daylight saving time starts at 2 a.m. Sunday.