Winter Storm in Watauga, North Carolina

Between 1.5 and 5.5 inches of snow was observed across Watauga County. The higher accumulations occurred in the higher elevation locations with 5.5 inches of snow reported near Beech Mountain. Key Impacts: power outages, vehicle accidents.

An upper level storm system tracked across the eastern United States through the day of January 11 and into the overnight, while the resultant surface low moved from the Gulf Coast into the Carolina coast. Some initial precipitation spread over North Carolina from the surface low, but the heavier precipitation occurred with the passage of the upper level storm system. Strong lift resulted in some banding of heavy snow with localized areas of higher accumulations of northwest North Carolina. The accumulating snow led to hazardous road conditions and some vehicle accidents, a few of which resulted in road closures.