Winter Storm Warning Issued for Parts of North Carolina and Virginia Through Monday Night
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
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A major winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow and high winds to Ashe, Watauga, Smyth, and Grayson counties, with up to 12 inches of snow possible in higher elevations.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Winter Storm Warning
- Affected area
- Western North Carolina and Southwest Virginia
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Blacksburg VA
Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Western North Carolina and Southwest Virginia.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg, VA, has issued a Winter Storm Warning for portions of western North Carolina and southwest Virginia. This alert is in response to a low-pressure system near Cape Hatteras that is expected to strengthen into a major winter storm as it moves north along the East Coast.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the following geographic regions:
- North Carolina: Ashe and Watauga Counties.
- Virginia: Grayson and Smyth Counties.
Specific high-elevation locations mentioned include Beech Mountain, Mount Rogers, and Flattop Mountain.
Expected Conditions
- Snow Accumulations: Total snow accumulations are expected to range from up to 3 inches in lower elevations to between 5 and 12 inches for areas above 3500 feet.
- Wind: Wind gusts could reach as high as 50 mph.
- Visibility: Falling and blowing snow may cause visibilities to drop below 1/4 mile.
- Temperature: Temperatures are forecast to fall into the teens tonight. Combined with the wind, wind chill values are expected to be near zero late tonight and Monday.
Impacts
Roads, bridges, and overpasses are likely to become slick and hazardous, making travel very difficult. These conditions are expected to impact both the Monday morning and evening commutes. Additionally, strong winds may result in tree damage.
What You Should Do
Residents are advised to consider delaying all travel. If travel is absolutely necessary, motorists should use extreme caution and keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in their vehicle in case of an emergency. For the latest road conditions, residents can call 5-1-1.
Timeline
The Winter Storm Warning is effective immediately and remains in effect until midnight EST Monday night (February 24, 2026).
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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