Ice Storm — Polk Mountains, North Carolina

2013-02-26 · Polk Mountains, North Carolina

Wider weather episode

Rain and freezing rain began across the southern mountains shortly after midnight and continued through the pre-dawn hours. Many locations saw mainly rain. However, cold air locked in near the escarpment resulted in an all-freezing rain event there. By the time temperatures warmed above freezing during late morning, up to a half inch of ice had accumulated within a few miles of the continental divide. Meanwhile, locations farther away from the Blue Ridge saw only trace amounts of ice. There were scattered downed trees and power lines, resulting in quite a number of power outages, especially in McDowell and Henderson counties.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 436475. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.