Snow tonight for parts of northeast Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee

The official start of winter is a month out, but a true taste of winter will be felt tonight across the Southeast with chilly temperatures and even snow for parts of the northeast Georgia mountains and mountains in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

A strong upper area of low pressure is centered over the Great Lakes, sending reinforcing shots of cold air and pieces of energy [or lift] south and eastward. This is the case tonight with a reinforcing cold front blasting through the southeast along with a strong piece of energy rotating southward into the Carolinas on the backside of this upper low.

The lift associated with this robust piece of energy will manage to squeeze out any moisture in the atmosphere tonight, and with temperatures being cold, the atmosphere will support snow for the mountains of western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and even into the mountains of northeastern Georgia. Enough snow is forecast that accumulations are likely along the North Carolina, Tennessee state line where a few to several inches will fall by Friday morning.

Simulated radar tonight [Thursday night]

Because of the snow accumulations, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect tonight through Friday morning for these locations. Adding to the snow accumulations, will be strong wind gusts up to 50 mph. This will lead to whiteout conditions [at times] for the highest elevations. Travel will be disrupted for mountain roads within the Winter Weather Advisory. If you must travel in these area, follow all traction and chain laws.

Winter Weather Advisory Thursday night through Friday morning

Snow accumulations will generally be in the 1 to 3 inch range below 5,000 feet in the mountains but above 5,000 feet, 4 to 8 inches are possible, favoring the ridge lines. The heaviest snow accumulations are forecast for the highest peaks along the North Carolina/Tennessee state line [4-8 inches] with the lightest accumulations in the northeast Georgia mountains [generally under an inch].

Modeled snow accumulations

This is great news for the ski resorts in the area!