Cold/Wind Chill — Southern Jackson, North Carolina

2015-02-18 to 2015-02-20 · Southern Jackson, North Carolina

Wider weather episode

A strong arctic cold front blasted through the southern Appalachians and adjacent foothills during the afternoon and evening of the 18th, bringing strong winds and bitterly cold air to the region. By mid-evening, sustained winds of 10 to 25 mph combined with air temperatures in the single digits and teens to yield wind chill values in the 0 to -10 range in the valleys. By daybreak on the 19th, air temperatures in the valleys were near 0 while the high elevations were well below 0. Wind chill values during this time ranged from -5 to -20 across the valleys, while stronger winds and colder temperatures likely yielded values as low as -50 across the high elevations of the Smokies and Balsams. The low wind chills continued throughout the 19th, as air temperatures failed to warm above the mid-20s in even the lowest valleys, and the high elevations remained within a few degrees either side of 0. Wind chills remained no higher than the single digits across most of the area until late morning on the 20th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 561685. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.