North Carolina, 2003

Heavy Snow in North Carolina, March 30, 2003

March 30, 2003 · NWS GSP · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

Snow intensified across the southern and central mountains during the pre-dawn hours, and by sunrise, heavy snow accumulations were realized. Valley locations received anywhere from a trace to 6 inches, while up to 8 inches accumulated in the highest elevations.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.

Snow intensified across the southern and central mountains during the pre-dawn hours, and by sunrise, heavy snow accumulations were realized. Valley locations received anywhere from a trace to 6 inches, while up to 8 inches accumulated in the highest elevations. The heavy, wet snow caused widespread power outages, especially in Haywood County. Three hikers required rescue in Haywood County, and one was hospitilazed with hypothermia.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Madison

When
March 30, 6:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Madison forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.858, -82.706 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Swain

When
March 30, 6:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Swain forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.487, -83.493 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Haywood

When
March 30, 6:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Haywood forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.556, -82.982 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Buncombe

When
March 30, 6:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Buncombe forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.611, -82.530 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Graham

When
March 30, 6:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Graham forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.350, -83.834 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Jackson

When
March 30, 6:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Northern Jackson forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.287, -83.141 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Macon

When
March 30, 6:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Macon forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.150, -83.422 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Jackson

When
March 30, 6:00 AM EST to 9:00 AM EST
Where
Southern Jackson forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.287, -83.141 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, March 2003

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5348538, 5348539, 5348540, 5348541, 5348542, 5348543, 5348544, 5348545.