Winter Weather — Swain, North Carolina

2026-01-24 to 2026-01-25 · Swain, North Carolina

Wider weather episode

Precipitation associated with an intensifying low pressure system over the Deep South developed across the North Carolina mountains during the evening of the 24th, beginning as a mix of sleet and snow. Increasing southwest winds overnight resulted in steadily warming temperatures allowing the precipitation to change to freezing rain and rain across the Smokies and vicinity by daybreak. By mid-morning, precip had changed to rain across the entire area. Total sleet and snow accumulations generally ranged from one tenth to around one half inch. Some high elevation locations as well as some locations in the upper Tuckasegee and upper Pigeon valleys also saw a few hundredths of an inch of ice accretion.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1314022. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.