Snow falls in North Carolina mountains, prompts closure of 40+ miles of Blue Ridge Parkway

BANNER ELK, N.C. (WNCN) — While it’s extremely unlikely central North Carolina will see a White Christmas, a few inches of snow fell in the mountains late Friday and early Saturday.

An Alberta Clipper brought in the cold weather to the area setting up the snow for the mountains, according to the National Weather Service.

By 7 p.m. Friday, there was 1.5 inches of snow near Banner Elk in Avery County. More than two more inches of snow fell overnight — with the most falling in areas above 3,500 feet.

On Friday night, the weather service warned of freezing fog overnight in some areas.

A Winter Weather Advisory was in effect starting Friday afternoon and ending Saturday at 1 p.m., the National Weather Service said.

Snow in Banner Elk, North Carolina on Saturday. Photo from Elizabeth Michelow.

Weather forecasters warned of some travel impacts across mountain gaps.

Some areas of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia were closed because of snow Friday and Saturday, officials said.

In North Carolina, the Parkway was closed from Green Hill Road to U.S. 321/221 at Blowing Rock. Also, there is a closure from Holloway Mountain Road to U.S. 221.

Snow in Banner Elk, North Carolina on Saturday. Photo from Elizabeth Michelow.

About 40 miles of Parkway are also closed because of snow in areas south of mile 418, the National Park Service said.

The cold weather blast has helped North Carolina ski resorts. Sugar Mountain and Appalachian Ski Mountain are both making snow as of Saturday.

Snow in Banner Elk, North Carolina on Friday night. Photo from Elizabeth Michelow.
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