Blizzard Warning Issued for parts of WNC Mountains

Graphic Courtesy National Weather Service; modified by me

First of all, a blizzard isn't the end of the world. It just means that the wind is gonna blow snow around and limit visibility. The NOAA definition of Blizzard Warning:

Blizzard Warning

Issued for winter storms with sustained or frequent winds of 35 mph or higher with considerable falling and/or blowing snow that frequently reduces visibility to 1/4 of a mile or less. These conditions are expected to prevail for a minimum of 3 hours.

So, take a chill pill and don't go outside tonight, it's that simple. If your job requires that you go outside, then it sucks to be you. If you're out and get in a wreck and have to force people to come save you from your stupidity, then shame on you.


Here is the official statement from the National Weather Service:

Blizzard Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1035 AM EST WED FEB 10 2010


...NORTHWEST FLOW SNOW AND STRONG WINDS WILL INCREASE OVER THE
NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS TODAY...


.A DEEP LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST WILL
PRODUCE STRONG NORTHWEST FLOW ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN
NORTH CAROLINA TODAY AND TONIGHT. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FROM THE
GREAT LAKES WILL RIDE INTO THE MOUNTAINS ON THIS NORTHWEST FLOW
TO PRODUCE ACCUMULATING SNOW SHOWERS. STRONG...GUSTY NORTHWEST
WINDS WILL ALSO PRODUCE BLOWING SNOW AND LIKELY WIND DAMAGE THIS
AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT.






...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST THURSDAY...
...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST THURSDAY.
THE WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.


SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND INTENSIFY ACROSS THE
MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA TODAY...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE TENNESSEE
BORDER. SNOW SHOWERS WILL COMBINE WITH EXTREMELY STRONG NORTHWEST
WINDS TO PRODUCE WIDESPREAD BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. SNOWFALL
ACCUMULATIONS WILL VARY GREATLY DUE TO THE WIND...BUT WIDESPREAD 4
TO 6 INCH ACCUMULATIONS ARE LIKELY TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...WITH
LOCAL 6 TO 10 INCH ACCUMULATIONS ALONG THE HIGHEST RIDGE TOPS AND
NEAR THE IMMEDIATE TENNESSEE BORDER.


SUSTAINED NORTHWEST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WILL CONTINUE WITH GUSTS
OF 50 AND 60 MPH AT TIMES. HIGHER RIDGE TOPS COULD SEE A FEW
GUSTS OF 70 MPH. THESE WINDS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE FAIRLY WIDESPREAD
TREE AND POWER LINE DAMAGE...WITH ASSOCIATED POWER OUTAGES. IN
ADDITION...STRONG WINDS AND VERY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL PRODUCE
WIND CHILL VALUES OF MINUS 5 TO MINUS 10 AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...


A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.


PLEASE REPORT ANY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE AT 877-633-6772.