Heavy Snow — Alexander, North Carolina

2022-01-16 · Alexander, North Carolina

Wider weather episode

Moisture overspread the North Carolina foothills and far western Piedmont early on the 16th as strengthening low pressure moved across the Deep South. Strong northeast winds supplied ample cold air for the precipitation to begin as light snow across much of the foothills. Snow continued into the overnight, becoming moderate to occasionally heavy, with snowfall rates of up to an inch per hour reported. Heavy snowfall criteria of 2 to 4 inches was reached in many areas by sunrise, with accumulating snow continuing through the morning hours before tapering off to occasional snow showers during the afternoon and evening. Total snow accumulations ranged from 5 to 10 inches across much of the area, with locally higher amounts along the eastern Blue Ridge escarpment. Travel was difficult to nearly impossible throughout the 16th and much of the 17th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 994426. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.