Snow storm to barrel across North Carolina mountains, NWS says. How much could fall?

Up to 6 inches of snow are expected to blanket parts of the North Carolina mountains, National Weather Service forecasters said Saturday.

Snow showers are predicted across the mountains on Monday, NWS meteorologists in the Greer, South Carolina, office, said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Areas bordering Tennessee can expect the highest totals at 4 to 6 inches, according to the NWS.

Heavy rain, winds elsewhere

Heavy rain and gusty winds are expected elsewhere in the Carolinas, including the Charlotte area, Upstate South Carolina, the NC Piedmont and foothills on Sunday, forecasters said.

Up to 3” of rain could fall east of Interstate 77 and less than an inch to the west, NWS Greer office meteorologists said on X at 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

Gusts of 30-40 mph are expected Sunday afternoon and evening, and higher gusts in the mountains, NWS forecasters said.

“Very windy conditions continue into (Monday),” the NWS said on X.

NWS meteorologists warned of flooding along the Interstate 77 corridor on Sunday, with up to 3 inches of rain dumping on some areas.

“Windy to very windy conditions are also expected throughout the region, especially Sunday night into Monday,” according to an NWS hazardous weather outlook bulletin just before 4:30 p.m, Saturday.

The eventual storm track was still uncertain late Saturday afternoon, NWS meteorologists said

“If the storm tracks closer to the forecast area than currently expected, heavier rainfall and windier conditions will occur,” according to the bulletin issued for the Charlotte area, Carolina mountains and the NC Piedmont and foothills.

Where’s the bad stuff from?

Blame two separate weather systems for the snow and heavy rain across the Carolinas, meteorologist Jake Wimberley of the NWS Greer office told The Charlotte Observer Saturday night.

The systems will eventually merge in parts of the states, he said.

One system was over New Orleans at 6 p.m. Saturday and the other system was in the Midwest, he said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.