/O.NEW.KGSP.WS.A.0002.070125T1100Z- 070126T1100Z/ AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY- MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE- GRAHAM- NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON- SOUTHERN JACKSON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…NEWLAND…SPRUCE PINE… CHEROKEE… WAYNESVILLE…ASHEVILLE… SYLVA…FRANKLIN 500 AM EST WED JAN 24 2007…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT.

A DISTURBANCE WILL REACH THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS ON THURSDAY. GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS THURSDAY MORNING AND WILL STRENGTHEN INTO THE AFTERNOON. THESE WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH THE PASSING DISTURBANCE TO SUPPORT SEVERAL BANDS OF SNOW SHOWERS…POSSIBLY BEGINNING EARLY THURSDAY. AT THIS TIME…THE SNOW BANDS SHOULD PEAK AROUND NOON ON THURSDAY AND COULD REMAIN INTO THE AFTERNOON. THESE BANDS MAY BRING SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOWFALL TO COUNTIES BORDERING TENNESSEE ALONG WITH HIGHER INTERIOR MOUNTAINS. IN ADDITION… GUSTY WINDS MAY CREATE PERIODS OF BLOWING SNOW AND FRIGID WIND CHILLS.

AT THIS POINT…THE GREATEST SNOWFALL SHOULD REMAIN NEAR THE TENNESSEE BORDER…ESPECIALLY ALONG THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND SMOKIES. WIND GUSTS WILL LIKELY CREATE SEVERAL AREAS OF REDUCED VISIBILITIES AND DRIFTS…ALONG WITH PROLONGED PERIODS OF SINGLE DIGIT WIND CHILLS.

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW… SLEET…OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

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Snow! Snow! Snow! C’mon Snow!!!