North Carolina, 2012

Winter Weather in North Carolina, December 28 to 29, 2012

December 28 to 29, 2012 · NWS GSP · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

Light sleet developed across the northern mountains and foothills during the evening hours, as a weak area of low pressured moved south of the region. Although mostly rain fell in the lower elevations, a few periodic bursts of sleet resulted in spotty light accumulations.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
10

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.

Light sleet developed across the northern mountains and foothills during the evening hours, as a weak area of low pressured moved south of the region. Although mostly rain fell in the lower elevations, a few periodic bursts of sleet resulted in spotty light accumulations. The more significant accumulations occurred in the high elevations along and west of the escarpment, where as much as a half inch fell. Sleet changed to light freezing rain across portions of the northern mountains, mainly above 3000 feet, early on the 29th. The combination of sleet and light ice accretion resulted in some very slick roads.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Avery

When
December 28, 8:00 PM EST to December 29, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Avery forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
36.077, -81.922 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Mitchell

When
December 28, 8:00 PM EST to December 29, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Mitchell forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
36.013, -82.163 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Yancey

When
December 28, 8:00 PM EST to December 29, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Yancey forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
35.899, -82.308 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Buncombe

When
December 28, 8:00 PM EST to December 29, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Buncombe forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
35.611, -82.530 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Caldwell Mountains

When
December 28, 8:00 PM EST to December 29, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Caldwell Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
35.953, -81.546 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Greater Caldwell

When
December 28, 8:00 PM EST to December 29, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Greater Caldwell forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
35.953, -81.546 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Burke Mountains

When
December 28, 8:00 PM EST to December 29, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Burke Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
35.750, -81.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Greater Burke

When
December 28, 8:00 PM EST to December 29, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Greater Burke forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
35.750, -81.705 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, McDowell Mountains

When
December 28, 8:00 PM EST to December 29, 5:00 AM EST
Where
McDowell Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
35.681, -82.049 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Eastern McDowell

When
December 28, 8:00 PM EST to December 29, 5:00 AM EST
Where
Eastern McDowell forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
35.681, -82.049 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Carolina in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, December 2012

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: 423393, 423394, 423395, 423396, 423397, 423398, 423399, 423400, 423401, 423402.