Heavy Snow in North Carolina, December 17, 2000

A dynamic system affected western North Carolina during the 16th and 17th, bringing a variety of weather to the region, from freezing rain in mountain valleys to large hail and damaging winds across much of the region. A number of meteorological factors came together to produce such interesting atmospheric phenomena: a very strong cold front that would eventually usher in the coldest air in nearly two years into the state, strong mid-level and upper-level jets, a potent upper level disturbance, a temporary surge of warm, moist air into the region and the antecedent cold air trapped in lower valleys of the higher terrain in the mountains. Heavy rain, with embedded thunderstorms, crossed the region from late morning through the afternoon on the 16th. Cold air trapped in some valleys of the northern mountains never completely scoured out, resulting in a light glaze south and west of Newland. Just as surface temperatures rose above freezing in the northern mountains, thunderstorms pushed out ahead of the strong front, with numerous small hail reports. Nickel-sized hail was reported 8 miles north of Sylva in Jackson County. As the front, and attendant pressure gradient, pushed its way into western North Carolina, winds increased into the 50 to 60 mph range, resulting in numerous downed trees and power lines. Nearly every county in the mountains reported some wind damage. The high winds eventually affected the foothills and piedmont. In Charlotte, numerous trees were downed and furniture was blown off porches. An unsturdy building in Spencer collapsed. In the wake of the frontal passage, much colder air invaded the region, and as another shortwave affected the region on the 17th, a wide swath of 1 to 3 inch snow blanketed the higher terrain. Flurries were reported as far east as Hickory and Gastonia.