A storm that drenched Western North Carolina following a dry fall season will bring strong wind to the area in its wake, according to the National Weather Service.
A wind advisory was issued Wednesday morning, Dec. 11, at 7 a.m. for Buncombe, Henderson, Caldwell Mountains, Burke Mountains, McDowell Mountains, Rutherford Mountains and Polk Mountains. The advisory is in effect until 1 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 12.
Here's what else to know about the incoming wind, school closures and how much rain the region got.
Today, Wednesday, Dec. 11, a 20% chance of showers is predicted before noon, along with patchy fog. Clouds will gradually clear, with temperatures falling to around 34 degrees by 1 p.m. Conditions will be breezy, with a northwest wind 16-22 mph and gusts as high as 29 mph.
Tonight, it will be partly cloudy with a low around 26. More wind is expected, northwest 10-14 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.
Tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 12, is expected to be sunny with a high near 44. Northwest winds of 9-13 mph will continue, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
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Mountainous areas near the South Carolina border - from the Brevard area across southern Henderson County into southern Polk County - saw the most rain Dec. 10 and 11, around 2.5-4 inches according to the NWS.
The recorded storm total for Asheville was 2.28 inches of rain.
School closures are in effect for Avery, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey Counties. NWS Meteorologist Steve Wilkinson said snow is expected mainly in counties bordering Tennessee at 3,000-3,500 feet in elevation.
"Even there, we're only looking at 1 to 2 inches maybe, and then some spotty, higher amounts on the higher peaks," Wilkinson said.
He added that the snow is likely already ongoing in higher elevations, with more off and on flurries expected through the evening hours in these areas.
Luckily for the still-recovering region, a few dry months helped to prevent flooding. Most of WNC is in moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
"We haven't had any reports of any flooding across the area; it's just too dry," said NWS Meteorologist Steve Wilkinson. "It was a very dry fall, so stream levels were kind of running a little bit low, and groundwater is a little bit low."
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].