/O.UPG.KGSP.WS.A.0003.070201T0900Z- 070202T0500Z/ /O.NEW.KGSP.WS.W. 0003.070201T0900Z-070202T1100Z/ AVERY- MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD- BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM- NORTHERN JACKSON- MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA- HENDERSON- CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS- RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-POLK MOUNTAINS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…NEWLAND… SPRUCE PINE…CHEROKEE… WAYNESVILLE…ASHEVILLE…SYLVA… FRANKLIN…BREVARD… HENDERSONVILLE… LAKE LURE 237 PM EST WED JAN 31 2007…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM THURSDAY TO 6 AM EST FRIDAY… … WINTER STORM WATCH NO LONGER IN EFFECT…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM THURSDAY TO 6 AM EST FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO OVERSPREAD THE NORTHERN NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS… AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE FOOTHILLS…EARLY THURSDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE TO FALL INTO MIDDAY. SNOW WILL MIX WITH AND BECOME PREDOMINATELY SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING…EXCEPT OVER THE AREAS WEST OF THE FRENCH BROAD. HERE PRECIPITATION WILL TRANSITION TO MOSTLY RAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON. TWO TO FOUR INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS ARE EXPECTED. ALONG WITH THE SNOW…A DAMAGING ACCUMULATION OF ICE IS EXPECTED ALONG AND JUST WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE AND POSSIBLY THE UPPER FRENCH BROAD VALLEY.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW… SLEET… AND ICE ARE EXPECTED. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWERLINES.