Power Outage in Jefferson, NC

Wind gusts across the county reached as high as 76 mph. Wind gusts over 50 mph were common for around a five to six hour period late on April 1 into the early morning hours of April 2. During the event numerous trees and power lines were blown down countywide. Several road were blocked due to the downed trees. The majority of the damage reports were from the Creston area. Damage values are estimated.

Wind gusts from 61 to 73 MPH were measured in Ashe County, with the strongest gust measured at Mount Jefferson. Over 1,200 homes and businesses lost power, numerous trees were downed, many roofs were damaged, and one outbuilding was overturned and destroyed.

A mix of wintry precipitation fell across Ashe County. A trace to 0.15 inches of ice accumulated, along with a trace to 0.2 inches of sleet and a trace to 3 inches of snow across the county. Key Impacts: Icy roads, delayed travel, sporadic power outages.

Gusts to 58 mph were measured at the Ashe County Airport in Jefferson. Several trees and power lines were also down in the Lansing area as reported by a 911 dispatcher.

Snowfall reports from trained spotters and members of the public around the county ranged from 2.5 inches up to 7.8 inches in Laurel Springs. The heavy wet snow resulted in numerous trees falling on power lines around the county. Key Impacts: Impassable snow covered roads, traffic accidents, power outages.

Skywarn-trained weather spotters and members of the general public observed ice accumulations from freezing rain ranging from 0.10 to locally 0.25 inches in thickness across portions of Ashe County, including around the communities of Glendale Springs, Nella, West Jefferson, Ashland, Grassy Creek, Fleetwood, Scottville, Wagoner and Shatley Springs. At least 154 power outages occurred because of the icing in the communities of Lansing, Shatley Springs and Laurel Springs. The icing caused closure of the county schools and opening delays of all county government services. A few minor traffic accidents and a few downed trees and tree limbs were also reported. Key impacts: power outages; hazardous travel conditions; automobile accidents; schools closed.

Several trees were downed across Ashe County during Tropical Storm Zeta, with four completely or partially blocking roads, and at least one tree down on a utility line. Almost 500 households were without power at some point during the storm.

A couple power lines were reported downed around Ashe County.

High wind gusts, ranging from several around 45 mph to a recorded gust of 58 mph measured at the Ashe County Airport (KGEV), were observed across Ashe County. These high wind gusts blew down a few trees and at least one power line at various locations across the county. These high winds, combined with frigid temperatures associated with Arctic air, resulted in wind chill values as low as -28F in spots across the county.

Ice accretion totals across the county ranged from 0.10 inches at a location two miles south-southeast of Trout, 0.25 inches at a location one mile east of West Jefferson, and 0.40 inches at a location two miles west-northwest of Fleetwood. Power outages occurred due to downed power lines and impacted 5500 customers. Damage values are estimated.

Numerous damaging wind gusts in the 45 mph to locally 65 mph range blew down dozens of trees across Ashe county. The AWOS at the Ashe County Airport (KGEV) recorded a maximum gust of 63 mph. The high winds and falling trees caused damage to the power grid in at least 20 locations throughout the county, leaving about 250 people without power.

Wind gusts estimated to be in the 40 to 50 mph range were common during the passage of Tropical Storm Michael, with higher gusts likely. The AWOS at the Ashe County Airport (KGEV) measured a maximum gust of 46 mph. These gusty winds, when combined with the effects of saturated ground due to heavy rain from the storm, resulted in hundreds of trees, as well as numerous power lines, down across the county.

Very strong winds caused trees and power lines to come down between Jefferson and Crumpler. Also, a number of trees and wires were down across other parts of the county with numerous power outages. Damage values are estimated.

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down by thunderstorm winds across portions of Ashe County. An estimated 50 power poles were snapped in the county by thunderstorm winds. At the peak of the storm, more than 18,000 BREMCO customers were without power. There were 40 calls to Ashe County 911 about debris, trees and power lines blown down.

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down by thunderstorm winds across portions of Ashe County. An estimated 50 power poles were snapped in the county by thunderstorm winds. At the peak of the storm, more than 18,000 BREMCO customers were without power. There were 40 calls to Ashe County 911 about debris, trees and power lines blown down.

Lightning struck a power pole on Glendale School Road.

Several gusts in the 50 to 57 knot range were observed during the early morning hours at the KGEV AWOS. Multiple trees and power lines were blown down near the community of Fleetwood.

Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph were recorded at instrumentation at the airport near West Jefferson. These damaging winds downed trees and power lines near Warrensville and throughout the county. Damage values are estimated.

A few trees and powerlines were reported down.

Thunderstorm winds blew two trees down on East Main Street. One of the trees fell on a power line. Damage values are estimated.

Thunderstorm winds downed a tree on a power line along Hickory Heights Drive. Damage values are estimated.

Snow broke out across the county late Thursday evening and continued through the day Friday. It mixed with sleet and freezing rain during the day Friday when warmer air moved in aloft. The precipitation ended as snow showers Friday evening. Total snow accumulations of 8 to 10 inches were common. Ice accumulation of up to 0.35 inches was reported in Glendale Springs, with slightly lower amounts around 0.15 inches common across most of the county.||Only minor tree and power line damage was reported.

Thunderstorm winds knocked a tree on a power line on Route 221.

One quarter to one third of an inch of glaze occurred during this event. The weight of the ice downed trees and power lines in the county.

County dispatch also reported trees down countywide, as well as powerlines. A barn was damaged in Baldwin.

A major storm affected the eastern U.S. during the period of November 30 - December 1 as a powerful upper low and surface system moved into the Great Lakes proving an extended period of deep southerly flow across the region. Precipitable water values were extremely high for very early December, running from 1.3 to 1.6 inches or nearly 200 percent of normal. Precipitation developed late on the 29th and produced moderate rains (0.25 to 0.50���) across the western portion of the NWS Blacksburg forecast area|ending at 7 AM on the 30th. Heavier and more widespread precipitation developed on the evening of the 30th into the early morning hours of December 1st.

Widespread heavy rains of two to four inches produced mudslides on Highway 163, two miles south of West Jefferson, and Highway 16, four miles southeast of Jefferson. Highway 16 South had one lane blocked by two downed trees. In Glendale Springs, an embankment washed out causing downed powerlines .

A cold front moved through the region during the afternoon of the 2nd. Strong winds behind the front downed trees, power lines and light poles. The AWOS in West Jefferson in Ashe county measured a wind gust of 57 knots.