North Carolina, 2014

Winter Storm in North Carolina, January 2 to 3, 2014

January 2 to 3, 2014 · NWS GSP · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

After a strong cold front introduced much colder air to the mountains, snow showers developed near the Tennessee border during mid-evening. The snow showers lasted through the pre-dawn hours, resulting in heavy accumulations across mainly the higher elevations of the northern and central mountains.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
5

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.

After a strong cold front introduced much colder air to the mountains, snow showers developed near the Tennessee border during mid-evening. The snow showers lasted through the pre-dawn hours, resulting in heavy accumulations across mainly the higher elevations of the northern and central mountains. Total accumulations were generally in the 3-5 inch range above 3500 feet near the Tennessee border. Locally higher amounts were observed on the high peaks and ridge tops, while most lower valley areas saw anywhere from a dusting to less than two inches. Very strong northwest winds resulted in considerable blowing and drifting snow.

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 Jan 2, 5:09 PM EST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 2, 5:09 PM EST, 1 hour 51 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 2, 4:25 PM EST, 2 hours 35 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jan 2, 6:08 PM EST, 52 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Avery

When
January 2, 7:00 PM EST to January 3, 8:00 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 Storm, Madison

When
January 2, 7:00 PM EST to January 3, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Madison forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
35.858, -82.706 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Yancey

When
January 2, 7:00 PM EST to January 3, 8:00 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 Storm, Mitchell

When
January 2, 7:00 PM EST to January 3, 8:00 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 Storm, Haywood

When
January 2, 7:00 PM EST to January 3, 8:00 AM EST
Where
Haywood forecast zone
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
35.556, -82.982 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, January 2014

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 493657, 493658, 493659, 493660, 493661.