Tuesday Forecast

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Swain, Northern Jackson, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Yancey, Avery and Buncombe counties from 6 am Tuesday through 7 am Thursday for accumulating snowfall, possibly mixed with sleet or rain/freezing rain at times.  A Winter Weather Advisory will go into effect for northern Greenville, northern Oconee and northern Pickens counties in SC as well as for Graham, Macon, southern Jackson, Transylvania, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and McDowell counties beginning 6 am Tuesday and lasting until very late Tuesday night for a mix of sleet, rain/freezing rain (early Tuesday), and some snow.  Overall amounts in the advisory area will be lower because of the mix involved, but some travel problems are possible with the wintry weather expected to affect this region.  Snow amounts could range from 3 to 6 inches in the warning areas.

A storm system will move into the Western Carolinas by early Tuesday to bring a cold rain to the Upstate and the wintry weather to the mountains.  Initially the rain in the Upstate could mix with a little sleet, but overall the Upstate will be wet with whiter conditions in the higher elevations and for points north.  Highs will be in the mid 30s almost everywhere with rapidly dropping temps in the mountains by Tuesday night behind the cold front.  Watch for travel problems with black ice likely across parts of Western NC with a patch or two of ice on some SC roads by Wednesday morning.  The moisture will pull out of the area by late Tuesday, possibly as a few snow shower in the Upstate.  Lingering mtn. moisture and strong NW winds will keep snow in the forecast for NW facing slopes through midweek.