CHARLOTTE, N.C. — One person has died as a winter storm brings snow to the Carolinas Friday.
A winter storm has already brought heavy snow to the mountains, where snow totals have surpassed 6 inches and counting in some places already by Friday afternoon.
In Ashe County, David Oscar Osbourne, 74, of Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, died when his 2001 Ford Ranger ran off NC 16 near Shatley Road, North Carolina State Highway Patrol announced later Friday.
First Warn forecaster Larry Sprinkle said rain will continue in Charlotte before changing over to a rain-snow mix and eventually snow by the evening rush hour. Winter Storm Watches and Warnings are in effect across the North Carolina mountains and foothills through Friday night.
Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich said the storm could bring up to 6 inches of snowfall to the higher elevations and towns like Boone. By midday Friday, over 7 inches of snow had fallen in Jefferson, located in Ashe County.
Areas along I-40, including Hickory and Statesville, could see anywhere from 1-4 inches.
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"I think we legit have a chance for snow in the Charlotte area," said Panovich, who has upped his popular "snow meter" to a 3 for Charlotte.
Areas in northern Mecklenburg, like Huntersville and Cornelius, have a greater chance of seeing 1-2 inches, while the southern end of the county near the state line is more likely to see only a trace of snow, if anything.
Viewers capture snow in the Carolinas
"Charlotte people, your best chance would be a quick burst of snow Friday evening, if anything," Panovich said. "The rest of the area will probably have it on and off throughout the day and it moves out fairly quickly.
Charlotte snow chances, according to Brad Panovich
- Zero: 20%
- Trace to 1": 55%
- 1-2": 5%
- 2-4": 4%
Panovich said Friday's setup is a strange scenario, when the cold air "chases" the moisture. That, combined with elevation playing a role in what kind of precipitation you see, is why it's so hard to pinpoint where the rain-snow line will form.
"The northern part of the county, up around Lake Norman, probably an inch, maybe two," Panovich said. "The southern part, most likely a trace to zero, so the gradient across the Charlotte metro is substantial."
State DOT crews in Watauga County will be working around the clock with workers split into 12-hour shifts.
Travis Chrisawn is Watauga County's DOT maintenance engineer, and he said 24 plows spent all Friday morning clearing the main roads before moving to side streets.
"I expect we'll be running for at least 24 more hours," Chrisawn said. "We started last night prior to the precipitation, and I expect we'll still be running this time tomorrow."
Highway Patrol is concerned about wet spots on the roads freezing over by Saturday morning.
Troopers investigated seven crashes in Caldwell, Watauga and Ashe Counties and responded to 11 disabled vehicles that required a tow truck.
Trooper Jeffrey Swagger said they typically see higher-speed crashes the day after snowfall.
Bob Rochelle has lived in Boone for 30 years, and he said, so far, the roads have been easy to drive through.
"It's a beautiful snow actually," Rochelle said. "It's not hard to get around this. It's perfect weather."
Snow totals
As of 6 p.m. Friday
ALLEGHANY, 1 ENE SPARTA, NC, 3.5, EMERGENCY MNGR, 11:11
ALLEGHANY, LAUREL SPRINGS, NC, 3.5, POST OFFICE, 11:18
ALLEGHANY, 2 SW PINEY CREEK, NC, 5, PUBLIC, 12:00
ALLEGHANY, 1 SSW WHITEHEAD, NC, 5.5, CO-OP OBSERVER, 13:00
ALLEGHANY, SPARTA, NC, 8, PUBLIC, 15:25
ASHE, 4 S GRASSY CREEK, NC, 3.2, PUBLIC, "REPORT FROM CRUMPLER, NC VIA FACEBOOK.", 07:19
ASHE, 2 NNE SHATLEY SPRINGS, NC, 4, PUBLIC, 08:17
ASHE, 1 SE LANSING, NC, 4, TRAINED SPOTTER, 09:54
ASHE, 2 SSW ASHLAND, NC, 3.8, COCORAHS, 10:10
ASHE, FLEETWOOD, NC, 6.5, PUBLIC, STORM TOTAL SO FAR. ELEVATION 3250 FEET., 11:00
ASHE, 1 SE JEFFERSON, NC, 7.3, PUBLIC, 11:30
ASHE, 1 SE JEFFERSON, NC, 7.3, PUBLIC, CORRECTS PREVIOUS SNOW REPORT FROM 1 SE JEFFERSON., 11:30
ASHE, 3 SE FLEETWOOD, NC, 7, PUBLIC, SNOWFALL CONTINUING AT THIS TIME., 11:36
ASHE, LAUREL SPRINGS, NC, 5.5, PUBLIC, 12:04
ASHE, LANSING, NC, 5.3, PUBLIC, STILL SNOWING., 12:40
ASHE, WEST JEFFERSON, NC, 8, PUBLIC, STILL SNOWING., 13:41
ASHE, 1 NW BALDWIN, NC, 8.5, TRAINED SPOTTER, 14:30
ASHE, 1 SE JEFFERSON, NC, 7.8, PUBLIC, 15:01
AVERY, 11 N NEWLAND, NC, 2, CO-OP OBSERVER, FLAT SPRINGS COMMUNITY, 07:00
AVERY, 3 WSW JONAS RIDGE, NC, 2, COCORAHS, 07:00
AVERY, 4 ESE NEWLAND, NC, 3.5, TRAINED SPOTTER, ELEVATION 3640FT, 07:30
AVERY, 5 W MINNEAPOLIS, NC, 4, PUBLIC, 09:47
BLAND, 3 SW LONG SPUR, VA, 1.5, PUBLIC, ROADS A BIT SLUSHY BUT EASILY PASSABLE., 10:58
BUNCOMBE, 2 W FLETCHER, NC, 1.3, OFFICIAL NWS OBS, AVL AIRPORT, 07:00
BUNCOMBE, 3 SSW CANDLER, NC, 1, PUBLIC, 07:00
BUNCOMBE, 5 SE WEAVERVILLE, NC, 1.1, COCORAHS, 07:00
BUNCOMBE, WEAVERVILLE, NC, 1, PUBLIC, 08:37
BUNCOMBE, 3 SSW CANDLER, NC, 1.2, PUBLIC, 09:31
BUNCOMBE, BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC, 2.8, TRAINED SPOTTER, 10:40
BUNCOMBE, 1 N FAIRVIEW, NC, 3, PUBLIC, STILL SNOWING., 12:00
BUNCOMBE, 3 SSW CANDLER, NC, 1.4, PUBLIC, 12:34
BURKE, MORGANTON, NC, 1, PUBLIC, 08:22
BURKE, MORGANTON, NC, 1.5, PUBLIC, 09:05
BURKE, VALDESE, NC, 2, PUBLIC, 09:25
BURKE, 1 N VALDESE, NC, 1.7, TRAINED SPOTTER, LIGHT SNOW STILL FALLING., 10:00
BURKE, 3 NNE MORGANTON, NC, 2.5, BROADCAST MEDIA, 16:00
BURKE, 4 E TABLE ROCK, NC, 4.5, BROADCAST MEDIA, JOHNS RIVER ROAD AND PIEDMONT ROAD., 16:00
BURKE, 4 NNE GLEN ALPINE, NC, 4, BROADCAST MEDIA, 16:00
BURKE, GLEN ALPINE, NC, 4, BROADCAST MEDIA, 16:00
BURKE, VALDESE, NC, 2, BROADCAST MEDIA, 16:00
CALDWELL, LENOIR, NC, 1.5, BROADCAST MEDIA, 09:15
CALDWELL, HUDSON, NC, 2, BROADCAST MEDIA, 16:00
CALDWELL, LENOIR, NC, 2.5, BROADCAST MEDIA, 16:00
CALDWELL, LENOIR, NC, 3, PUBLIC, 16:20
CARROLL, 1 WNW PIPERS GAP, VA, 4, TRAINED SPOTTER, 12:18
CARROLL, 2 SW FANCY GAP, VA, 3.8, PUBLIC, 13:45
CARROLL, 2 W FANCY GAP, VA, 4.8, PUBLIC, 14:29
CARROLL, HILLSVILLE, VA, 3.5, BROADCAST MEDIA, 15:19
CARROLL, 3 SSW PIPERS GAP, VA, 5, TRAINED SPOTTER, 16:00
CARROLL, 4 SE SYLVATUS, VA, 4, TRAINED SPOTTER, 16:15
CARROLL, 3 WNW GALAX HILLSVILLE, VA, 3.8, TRAINED SPOTTER, 16:33
CARROLL, 3 SE GLADESBORO, VA, 5, TRAINED SPOTTER, 3 INCH OF SNOW DEPTH., 17:07
CARROLL, FANCY GAP, VA, 5, PUBLIC, 17:44
CATAWBA, 6 ENE MAIDEN, NC, 0.1, COCORAHS, 07:00
CATAWBA, 4 SSW HICKORY, NC, 1, TRAINED SPOTTER, 11:34
CITY OF GALAX, GALAX CITY, VA, 2, PUBLIC, 05:50
CITY OF ROANOKE, 2 SW ROANOKE, VA, 1.3, COCORAHS, 03:39
CITY OF ROANOKE, 3 S ROANOKE, VA, 2, PUBLIC, 13:15
CITY OF ROANOKE, 2 SW ROANOKE, VA, 1.3, COCORAHS, CORRECTS PREVIOUS SNOW REPORT FROM 2 SW ROANOKE., 15:39
CITY OF ROANOKE, 2 S ROANOKE AIRPORT, VA, 1, BROADCAST MEDIA, 16:40
DAVIDSON, LEXINGTON, NC, 0.1, PUBLIC, "A CHANGEOVER FROM RAIN TO SNOW HAS OCCURRED IN LEXINGTON, WITH SNOW BEGINNING TO ACCUMULATE ON GRASSY AND UNTREATED SURFACES.", 17:44
DAVIE, 5 E HARMONY, NC, 0.1, COCORAHS, 05:45
GASTON, 3 SSE GASTONIA, NC, 0.3, PUBLIC, 17:40
GILES, 1 NE PEARISBURG, VA, 1.8, PUBLIC, 12:27
GRAHAM, 4 WSW SANTEETLAH, NC, 6, DEPT OF HIGHWAYS, STARTS OUT AROUND 1 INCH IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS AND MASES OUT AROUND 6 INCHES AT THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS OF THE CHEROHALA SKYWAY., 12:00
GRAYSON, WHITETOP, VA, 7, PUBLIC, 11:09
GRAYSON, 1 ENE BAYWOOD, VA, 4.5, TRAINED SPOTTER, SNOW STILL FALLING AT THIS TIME AT A STEADY RATE., 11:57
GRAYSON, 4 SSW SPRING VALLEY, VA, 2.3, TRAINED SPOTTER, 12:00
GRAYSON, 1 NNE INDEPENDENCE, VA, 2.3, TRAINED SPOTTER, 12:15
GRAYSON, 3 SSW VOLNEY, VA, 5, PUBLIC, SNOW IS STILL FALLING., 12:25
GRAYSON, RUGBY, VA, 5, PUBLIC, SNOW IS STILL FALLING., 12:35
GRAYSON, 6 SSW PIPERS GAP, VA, 4.8, PUBLIC, 14:25
GRAYSON, 3 SSW ELK CREEK, VA, 5.5, TRAINED SPOTTER, 15:55
HAYWOOD, 2 ESE WAYNESVILLE, NC, 1.5, PUBLIC, 07:00
HAYWOOD, 2 ESE WAYNESVILLE, NC, 2, PUBLIC, ELEVATION 2800FT, 07:00
HAYWOOD, 2 NW WAYNESVILLE, NC, 3, TRAINED SPOTTER, ELEVATION 2800FT, 07:35
HAYWOOD, WAYNESVILLE, NC, 2, PUBLIC, 08:32
HENRY, 4 NNW CHATMOSS, VA, 3, PUBLIC, 16:00
JACKSON, BALSAM, NC, 2, PUBLIC, 08:32
JACKSON, 3 N CASHIERS, NC, 1.5, PUBLIC, 08:37
JACKSON, SYLVA, NC, 2, PUBLIC, 12:00
LINCOLN, 4 W VALE, NC, 0.3, COCORAHS, 06:00
LINCOLN, 5 WSW LINCOLNTON, NC, 0.4, COCORAHS, 06:20
MCDOWELL, 5 SSW OLD FORT, NC, 2, PUBLIC, 06:20
MCDOWELL, 4 NE OLD FORT, NC, 0.5, CO-OP OBSERVER, 06:50
MCDOWELL, NEBO, NC, 3, PUBLIC, LIGHT SNOW STILL FALLING., 10:30
MCDOWELL, LITTLE SWITZERLAND, NC, 6, PUBLIC, "ELEVATION 3535 FEET, STILL SNOWING LIGHTLY.", 11:45
MCDOWELL, NEBO, NC, 4, PUBLIC, 16:00
MERCER, 1 W PRINCETON, WV, 1, PUBLIC, ALMOST ALL GRASS AND ROADS ARE COVERED., 10:10
MONTGOMERY, 1 NNW PILOT, VA, 1, PUBLIC, 10:00
MONTGOMERY, 4 E CHILDRESS, VA, 1, PUBLIC, MOSTLY ON GRASSY SURFACES., 11:17
MONTGOMERY, 2 WNW CHRISTIANSBURG, VA, 1.5, NWS EMPLOYEE, 11:38
MONTGOMERY, 4 WNW ELLISTON, VA, 2.2, TRAINED SPOTTER, STILL SNOWING., 12:15
MONTGOMERY, 1 NE MERRIMAC, VA, 1.5, OFFICIAL NWS OBS, 0.15 LIQUID., 13:00
MONTGOMERY, 1 WNW WALTON, VA, 1, NWS EMPLOYEE, 13:30
MONTGOMERY, 1 NNW PILOT, VA, 2.5, NWS EMPLOYEE, 14:00
MONTGOMERY, 2 S PILOT, VA, 3.5, TRAINED SPOTTER, 15:30
MONTGOMERY, 2 SW BLACKSBURG, VA, 2.2, NWS EMPLOYEE, 16:10
MONTGOMERY, 2 NE BLACKSBURG, VA, 2.5, NWS EMPLOYEE, 16:30
MONTGOMERY, 2 WNW CHRISTIANSBURG, VA, 3, NWS EMPLOYEE, 17:20
PATRICK, MEADOWS OF DAN, VA, 2.5, PUBLIC, 10:56
PATRICK, 3 W WOOLWINE, VA, 3.5, PUBLIC, SNOW IS STILL FALLING., 13:20
PATRICK, 5 SSW MEADOWS OF DAN, VA, 2, CO-OP OBSERVER, 13:54
PATRICK, 4 NW ARARAT, VA, 3, TRAINED SPOTTER, LIGHT SNOW STILL FALLING., 14:00
PATRICK, 5 SW STUART, VA, 0.5, TRAINED SPOTTER, 14:17
POLK, 4 SW COLUMBUS, NC, 0.5, CO-OP OBSERVER, 04:00
RABUN, 3 SE MOCCASIN CREEK STA, GA, 1, COCORAHS, 07:00
RABUN, 2 NNW CLAYTON, GA, 0.8, PUBLIC, 10:46
ROANOKE, BENT MOUNTAIN, VA, 1.5, NWS EMPLOYEE, 10:01
ROANOKE, BENT MOUNTAIN, VA, 3, NWS EMPLOYEE, CURRENT STORM TOTAL AND STILL SNOWING., 11:29
ROANOKE, CAVE SPRING, VA, 2.5, PUBLIC, CORRECTS PREVIOUS SNOW REPORT FROM CAVE SPRING., 15:00
ROANOKE, CAVE SPRING, VA, 25, PUBLIC, 15:00
ROANOKE, 3 ESE CAVE SPRING, VA, 2.5, NEWSPAPER, 16:04
ROANOKE, 1 NNW BENT MOUNTAIN, VA, 4, NWS EMPLOYEE, 17:50
ROCKINGHAM, 1 ENE REIDSVILLE, NC, 0.5, TRAINED SPOTTER, 16:44
RUTHERFORD, 4 W THERMAL CITY, NC, 0.2, COCORAHS, 06:40
RUTHERFORD, 4 SSW RUTHERFORDTON, NC, 0.3, CO-OP OBSERVER, 07:00
RUTHERFORD, 4 NW ELLENBORO, NC, 0.1, PUBLIC, 08:28
SMYTH, MARION, VA, 2, PUBLIC, 07:05
SMYTH, SALTVILLE, VA, 3, PUBLIC, 07:06
SPARTANBURG, 3 NW INMAN, SC, 0.5, COCORAHS, 07:00
SPARTANBURG, 4 SW CHESNEE, SC, 0.1, COCORAHS, 07:00
SPARTANBURG, 5 WSW SPARTANBURG, SC, 0.2, COCORAHS, 07:00
STOKES, LAWSONVILLE, NC, 1, PUBLIC, 16:41
SWAIN, 5 ENE ALARKA, NC, 5, PUBLIC, 09:05
TAZEWELL, BLUEFIELD, VA, 2.8, TRAINED SPOTTER, FROM WVVA., 10:04
TAZEWELL, 1 SE TAZEWELL, VA, 4.5, TRAINED SPOTTER, ELEVATION 3200 FEET., 13:56
TAZEWELL, 1 SE TAZEWELL, VA, 5, TRAINED SPOTTER, 16:09
TAZEWELL, 1 S TIPTOP, VA, 2, PUBLIC, 16:16
TAZEWELL, BURKES GARDEN, VA, 7, PUBLIC, 17:08
TRANSYLVANIA, 1 NNW BREVARD, NC, 2, COCORAHS, 07:00
WATAUGA, 2 W BOONE, NC, 2.8, TRAINED SPOTTER, 06:13
WATAUGA, VALLE CRUCIS, NC, 2, PUBLIC, VIA TWITTER., 07:51
WATAUGA, 1 NW AHO, NC, 3.8, PUBLIC, FROM SOCIAL MEDIA., 07:55
WATAUGA, BLOWING ROCK, NC, 4.7, PUBLIC, FROM SOCIAL MEDIA., 08:10
WATAUGA, BOONE, NC, 4, PUBLIC, 08:59
WATAUGA, 2 W BOONE, NC, 3.8, PUBLIC, CURRENT STORM TOTAL AND STILL SNOWING., 09:00
WATAUGA, 1 SW BOONE, NC, 5, PUBLIC, CURRENTLY SNOWING HEAVILY., 09:10
WATAUGA, 1 NNW TODD, NC, 7, TRAINED SPOTTER, STORM TOTAL SO FAR., 11:30
WATAUGA, BOONE, NC, 6, PUBLIC, 11:54
WATAUGA, 2 SE BOONE, NC, 5.5, PUBLIC, 12:00
WATAUGA, 3 W BLOWING ROCK, NC, 6, TRAINED SPOTTER, 12:15
WATAUGA, BEECH MOUNTAIN, NC, 5, PUBLIC, 12:29
WATAUGA, 1 S DEEP GAP, NC, 5, PUBLIC, "POWDER HORN MOUNTAIN, DEEP GAP NC.", 12:44
WATAUGA, BOONE, NC, 8, PUBLIC, STILL SNOWING., 13:24
WATAUGA, 2 NW BOONE, NC, 6.5, PUBLIC, 14:45
WATAUGA, 2 NNW BOONE, NC, 6.5, TRAINED SPOTTER, 14:51
WILKES, 4 SSW SUMMIT, NC, 4, PUBLIC, 10:45
WILKES, 2 ENE SUMMIT, NC, 3.5, PUBLIC, 10:57
WYTHE, RURAL RETREAT, VA, 2, PUBLIC, 07:06
WYTHE, WYTHEVILLE, VA, 2, PUBLIC, 08:08
WYTHE, CROCKETT, VA, 4, PUBLIC, 11:09
WYTHE, 1 NNW WYTHEVILLE, VA, 2.5, CO-OP OBSERVER, 12:00
WYTHE, 2 W WYTHEVILLE, VA, 3.3, TRAINED SPOTTER, 15:20