Snow discussion for tonight through Saturday

Well, we all knew it was a matter of time before we got some very cold air and more snow chances.  I will update this later this afternoon as there is still a lack of agreement in models, but I've got ACA in a range from 1" - 2.5" of snow (lower amounts low, higher up high, of course).  Closer to the TN border they'll get 3-4", a typical NW upslope event.  NOTE: winds will become very strong, so while the wind chills will be bitter, it could help keep accumulations lower than forecast simply because it will be blown around so much.

With that said, The GFS 1p Thursday run put a bull's eye over ACA of 8" (!)....there will be those occasional runs (there is one every 6 hours) that go wild then tame back down, but it makes me muse what it 'saw' to come up with that...it since backed down to a solid 2" for us, and the 1am run just came in at 2" with 3" as close as Sylva and the Plott Balsams.

Timing: some rain is possible later this afternoon, but by supper/darkfall, it should switch over to light snow.  There looks to be a more pronounced but short period of heavier snow close to midnight, then 'chance' snow lasting through most of Saturday.  NOTE: Saturday 7am temp will be in the mid-upper 20s, but by 5pm it will be roughly 10 degrees colder, so prepare for temps crashing through the day.

Whatever falls stays...we won't see 32 degrees again until Monday.  Sunday morning lows should easily be in the single digits.  However, like virtually every other cold snap this season, the really cold stuff is staying about 48 hours before before warming back up.  While we could hit 50 degrees by Wednesday, Monday night into early Tuesday morning could see one more very light hit of snow, but the bigger concern is for the overnight hours into Saturday.

Per roads: A letter to the membership was recently mailed out by the former board.  A subsequent letter will go out hopefully by tomorrow (weather permitting) from the new sitting president Jan Woodleaf.  Road care (and life in general here in ACA) will continue as it has, with no lapse in attention and treatment.  Given the extended potential periodic snowfall, albeit blown around, any salting (not necessarily plowing) may not take place until into the daylight hours Saturday due to logistics.  Anyone traveling our roads after midnight through the morning hours is urged to use typical caution given the untreated roads during that time.

Again, I'll update with any fine-tuning needed later this afternoon.

Bob