CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Parts of western North Carolina were coated with more than a foot of snow after a winter storm roared through the state, and utility crews spent Saturday trying to restore power to more than 34,000 customers left in the dark and the cold.
The National Weather Service reported more than 14 inches of snow in Burnsville, while there were 12 inches in the Hendersonville area. Waynesville had 11 inches of snow and Asheville Regional Airport recorded 8 inches.
In the Triad, Winston-Salem was coated by 3 inches and Greensboro reported 2 inches. Further east, Burlington and Roxboro had 1 inch.
Duke Energy reported early Saturday afternoon that it was working on nearly 40,000 outages. By 4 p.m., the number was down to 34,145. Of those outages, Buncombe County reported 8,822 and Henderson County had 5,362.
Blue Ridge Energy said as of 3 p.m. Saturday, nearly 1,700 members were without power. Caldwell County had the bulk of the outages with nearly 1,500.
A Blue Ridge statement said additional line technicians from sister cooperatives, as well as contractor crews, are assisting in power restoration efforts. High winds were also predicted in the mountain service area Saturday night, so crews were to remain on high alert and on call through the weekend.
The snow was tapering off on Saturday, but forecasters say any melted snow will freeze on surfaces and create black ice on roadways.
“The deep snow is going to last a while,” said Scott Krentz, National Weather Service meteorologist in Greer, South Carolina.
The weather service said highs on Sunday will be in the 30s for much of the state. Temperatures are expected to rise to the 40s on Monday before another round of cold weather arrives.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.