Wind Advisory Issued for Western North Carolina Mountains Through Sunday
Western NC mountains face dangerous winds up to 50 mph through Sunday afternoon, with power outages possible in nine counties.
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA — A wind advisory remains in effect for nine counties across western North Carolina’s mountainous regions, with dangerous gusts expected to continue through Sunday afternoon.
The National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg issued the advisory on Friday at 2:10 PM EDT, warning of northwest winds reaching 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected above 3,500 feet in elevation. The advisory runs from 6 AM to 2 PM EDT on Sunday.
Counties Under Advisory
The wind warning affects Buncombe, Haywood, Macon, McDowell Mountains, Mitchell, Northern Jackson, Southern Jackson, Transylvania, and Yancey counties. These areas encompass some of North Carolina’s highest elevations, including portions of the Blue Ridge Mountains and surrounding peaks.
Weather officials warn the gusty conditions will blow around unsecured objects and could bring down tree limbs. A few power outages may result from the high winds.
Safety Precautions
Residents in the affected counties should secure outdoor furniture, decorations, and other loose items that could become projectiles in strong winds. Officials recommend avoiding outdoor activities in elevated areas during the peak wind period.
The mountainous terrain in western North Carolina can amplify wind speeds, particularly along ridgelines and exposed slopes where gusts may exceed forecast speeds. Drivers of high-profile vehicles should exercise extra caution on mountain roadways during the advisory period.
Sunday’s wind event follows typical spring weather patterns for the region, when temperature differences between air masses can create strong pressure gradients leading to gusty conditions in higher elevations.
