Blast of winter weather plunges areas of North Carolina, Tennessee hit hard by Hurricane Helene into freeze
This cold snap will pose additional challenges to areas already reeling from the Hurricane Helene's damage, particularly those without power or water.
Powerful cold front brings coldest air of season to parts of North Carolina following Helene
Chimney Rock, North Carolina, is now in its recovery stages following Hurricane Helene. This area was one of the many communities to be affected by Helene just a few weeks ago. The storm brought biblical flooding and left the town looking unrecognizable. FOX Weather Jane Minar is live assessing the clean-up operations amid some chilly temperatures.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The weather has been cooperating in areas of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee since Hurricane Helene slammed the region weeks ago, but a cold front that blasted through the region this week has sent temperatures tumbling and flakes flying in the higher elevations.
Snow falls in western North Carolina as cold forecast in Appalachia
At least 3 inches of snow were measured on Big Bald mountain in North Carolina on Wednesday as the local National Weather Service forecast freezing temperatures continuing into Wednesday night.
The change in the weather has only added insult to injury for residents in areas that are still waiting for their power to be restored while work continues to clear debris and try to locate the more than 90 people who remain missing since the deadly hurricane.
Temperatures plummeted to 19 degrees in Highlands, North Carolina, on Thursday morning. Just a few miles away, atop Clingmans Dome at 6,600 feet, the mercury dipped to a chilly 21 degrees.
In Asheville, North Carolina, which had been forecast to approach its record low of 31 degrees for the day Thursday, remained significantly warmer with a low of 37 degrees.
In the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee, temperatures dropped to 34 degrees, marking the coldest reading since April 23. Nolichucky, Tennessee, which had experienced devastating flooding from the Nolichucky River, saw temperatures fall to 30 degrees.
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HURRICANES MILTON AND HELENE
(FOX Weather)
Daytime high temperatures will struggle to rise above the 50s, which the FOX Forecast Center said is more reminiscent of December and January than mid-October.
Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories have been issued across western North Carolina due to the falling temperatures, which are undoubtedly affecting residents who remain without power.
The National Weather Service in Tennessee has discontinued issuing frost and freeze products between October 1 and April 30. This is because frost and freezes are considered normal occurrences during this period. However, they will resume issuing these products again at the beginning of May.
(FOX Weather)
While temperatures fell, some communities in the higher elevations even saw their first snowfall of the season.
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Snow flurries dust North Carolina mountain town
Snow flurries dusted parts of North Carolina overnight into Wednesday amid a bout of wintry weather in the region. This footage was captured and posted to Instagram by @terratektrails, who said they filmed it at Beech Mountain Ski Resort on Tuesday.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, temperatures are expected to rebound and rise back toward average over the weekend.