A Freeze Watch has been issued for the High Country and the mountains of western North Carolina, effective from late Saturday night through Sunday morning, October 18. Sub-freezing temperatures, potentially dropping as low as 29 to 30 degrees, are possible across the region, with the coldest conditions anticipated at higher elevations. The National Weather Service cautions that these frost and freeze conditions could be detrimental to crops and other sensitive vegetation. Residents are also advised that unprotected outdoor plumbing could be damaged.
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg announced a Freeze Watch at 1:38 PM on Friday, encompassing Watauga and Ashe counties, along with portions of southwest Virginia and southeast West Virginia. In these areas, sub-freezing temperatures as low as 29 degrees are expected during the overnight hours from late Saturday into early Sunday. The watch is specifically in effect from roughly 1 AM to 9 AM on Sunday. Locations included in this watch are Boone, West Jefferson, Independence, Whitetop, and Troutdale.
In a separate but related advisory, the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg issued a Freeze Watch at 1:56 PM on Friday. This watch covers a broader swathe of western North Carolina counties, including Avery, Madison, Yancey, Mitchell, Swain, Haywood, Buncombe, Graham, Jackson, and Macon. For these counties, similar conditions are anticipated, with lows potentially reaching 30 degrees, particularly in areas of higher elevation. The timing of this watch aligns with the Blacksburg advisory, extending from late Saturday night through Sunday morning. Cities such as Asheville, Burnsville, Spruce Pine, Newland, Banner Elk, Waynesville, Franklin, Highlands, Sylva, Bryson City, Cashiers, Black Mountain, Marshall, Hot Springs, and Robbinsville are among those expected to experience these cold temperatures.
To mitigate potential damage from the impending cold, residents are encouraged to take proactive steps. The National Weather Service advises protecting tender plants from the cold. This includes bringing potted plants indoors or covering garden beds. Furthermore, precautions should be taken to safeguard outdoor plumbing. It is recommended that in-ground sprinkler systems be drained, garden hoses removed, and any exposed above-ground pipes covered to prevent freezing and potential bursting. The forecast for these conditions is courtesy of the National Weather Service.
