North Carolina, 2010

Winter Storm in North Carolina, December 15 to 16, 2010

December 15 to 16, 2010 · NWS GSP · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Snow developed over the northern mountains late in the evening, and continued into the early morning hours of the 16th. As temperatures warmed aloft, the snow changed to freezing rain and sleet which continued through the morning hours before changing to rain by early afternoon.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 developed over the northern mountains late in the evening, and continued into the early morning hours of the 16th. As temperatures warmed aloft, the snow changed to freezing rain and sleet which continued through the morning hours before changing to rain by early afternoon. Most areas received one quarter to one half inch of a combination of ice and sleet. The sleet and ice accumulating on top of the inch of snow that fell earlier created very hazardous driving conditions.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 15, 10:02 PM EST, 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 15, 10:02 PM EST, 58 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 15, 4:02 PM EST, 6 hours 58 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
402 PM EST WED DEC 15 2010

NCZ033-049-050-501-503-505-162115-
AVERY-YANCEY-MITCHELL-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-
MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
402 PM EST WED DEC 15 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON EST
THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER STORM WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER STORM WARNING.

AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE UP THE SOUTHEAST COAST SATURDAY...
SPREADING ANOTHER ROUND OF PRECIPITATION INTO THE WESTERN
CAROLINAS. ALTHOUGH CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY REMAINS REGARDING
QUANTITY AND THE TYPE OF PRECIPITATION THAT WILL FALL...CURRENT
INDICATIONS ARE THAT LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF WINTRY PRECIPITATION
WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

GAZ010-017-NCZ048-051>053-058-059-062>065-509-510-SCZ001>003-162115-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-MADISON-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM-
NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-
POLK MOUNTAINS-EASTERN POLK-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-
GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-
402 PM EST WED DEC 15 2010

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM
EST THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...WESTERN
NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE UP THE SOUTHEAST COAST SATURDAY...
SPREADING ANOTHER ROUND OF PRECIPITATION INTO THE WESTERN
CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA. ALTHOUGH CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY
REMAINS REGARDING QUANTITY AND THE TYPE OF PRECIPITATION THAT WILL
FALL...CURRENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF WINTRY
PRECIPITATION WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS SATURDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-502-504-506>508-162115-
ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-
MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE-EASTERN MCDOWELL-
RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-GREATER RUTHERFORD-
402 PM EST WED DEC 15 2010

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON
EST THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA AND
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE UP THE SOUTHEAST COAST SATURDAY...
SPREADING ANOTHER ROUND OF PRECIPITATION INTO THE WESTERN
CAROLINAS. ALTHOUGH CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY REMAINS REGARDING
QUANTITY AND THE TYPE OF PRECIPITATION THAT WILL FALL...CURRENT
INDICATIONS ARE THAT LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF WINTRY PRECIPITATION
WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE WESTERN PIEDMONT AND FOOTHILLS ON
SATURDAY...WITH WINTRY WEATHER BEING MOST LIKELY ALONG AND NORTH
OF THE I-40 CORRIDOR.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

GAZ018-026-028-SCZ004>007-010-012-013-162115-
STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-
GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-ANDERSON-LAURENS-UNION SC-
402 PM EST WED DEC 15 2010

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM
EST THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND UPSTATE
SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

NCZ082-SCZ008-009-014-162115-
UNION NC-CHEROKEE-YORK-CHESTER-
402 PM EST WED DEC 15 2010

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON
EST THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA AND
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

GAZ029-SCZ011-019-162115-
ELBERT-ABBEVILLE-GREENWOOD-
402 PM EST WED DEC 15 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND UPSTATE
SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

LANE

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Avery

When
December 15, 11:00 PM EST to December 16, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Avery forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
36.077, -81.922 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow developed over the northern mountains late in the evening, and continued into the early morning hours of the 16th. As temperatures warmed aloft, the snow changed to freezing rain and sleet which continued through the morning hours before changing to rain by early afternoon. Most areas received one quarter to one half inch of a combination of ice and sleet. The sleet and ice accumulating on top of the inch of snow that fell earlier created for very hazardous driving conditions.

Winter Storm, Mitchell

When
December 15, 11:00 PM EST to December 16, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Mitchell forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
36.013, -82.163 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow developed over the northern mountains late in the evening, and continued into the early morning hours of the 16th. As temperatures warmed aloft, the snow changed to freezing rain and sleet which continued through the morning hours before changing to rain by early afternoon. Most areas received one quarter to one half inch of a combination of ice and sleet. The sleet and ice accumulating on top of the inch of snow that fell earlier created for very hazardous driving conditions.

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, December 2010

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: 271651, 271652.