High Country Weather History | Complete Historical Records for Watauga County
🌩️ High Country Weather History
Complete Database of Significant Weather Events, Records & Closings
Watauga, Ashe, Avery & Wilkes Counties | 1893-Present
Welcome to the most comprehensive weather history database for the High Country region of North Carolina. This page consolidates decades of weather data, historic events, and records from Watauga, Ashe, Avery, and Wilkes counties into one authoritative resource.
From the catastrophic Hurricane Helene in 2024 to the legendary Blizzard of 1993, from 44+ years of school closing records to detailed wind gust databases—this is your complete reference for understanding the unique and sometimes extreme weather patterns of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Data compiled and maintained by Kenneth Reece, WataugaOnline.com
🌀 MOST RECENT MAJOR EVENT: Hurricane Helene (September 2024)
The Deadliest Hurricane in North Carolina History
September 24-27, 2024 — Hurricane Helene brought catastrophic flooding to Western North Carolina, resulting in at least 105 deaths statewide and causing an estimated $53 billion in damage. The High Country saw record rainfall and flooding that matched or exceeded historic events from 1916 and 1940.
Key Impacts:
- Rainfall: 16.67-21.47 inches across the High Country (Seven Devils recorded 21.47″)
- River Flooding: Watauga River crested at 29.5 feet above flood stage, matching the 1940 record
- Infrastructure: 880+ NCDOT road repairs needed in Watauga County alone
- Housing: 140 Watauga County homes condemned
- Fatalities: 2 deaths in Watauga County, 105 statewide
- App State: University closed for 2+ weeks
❄️ THE BLIZZARD OF 1993: “Storm of the Century”
March 12-14, 1993
The benchmark by which all High Country winter storms are measured. One of the most powerful storms to ever strike the Eastern United States, the Blizzard of 1993 paralyzed the entire region with massive snowfall, hurricane-force winds, and historic impacts.
Snowfall Totals:
- Boone: 33 inches
- Blowing Rock: 24 inches (March 13, 1993)
- Snowshoe, WV: 54 inches (highest recorded)
- Mount Mitchell: 50 inches (official NC record for single storm)
- Regional Range: 3 inches in Alabama to 54 inches in West Virginia
Wind & Weather Conditions:
- Mountain Peak Winds: 101 mph at Flattop Mountain (east of Asheville)
- Asheville Airport: 48 mph sustained with gusts to 64 mph
- Wind Chills: Colder than -20°F recorded across the mountains on March 13-14
- Thunder Snow: Reported during the height of the storm
- Snow Drifts: 8 to 21 feet reported across the region
Impacts & Response:
- Power Outages: 300,000 homes statewide without electricity
- Snowbound: Over 160,000 people reported stranded by the storm
- Road Blockages: Most, if not all, area roads impassable for days
- Emergency Response: Helicopters delivered food, medicine, and supplies to those buried by snow, including feed for livestock
- Ski Resort Help: Snow equipment from area ski resorts used to rescue stranded motorists
- 24-Hour Curfew: Enforced for 2 days in Boone and surrounding areas
- Recovery Time: Some vehicles didn't move for 2+ weeks
Regional Context:
The storm impacted the entire Eastern Seaboard from Alabama to Maine, producing blizzard conditions in the western half of North Carolina. At one point, Polk County reported 99% of its electrical customers without power. The combination of heavy snow accumulation, hurricane-force winds, and extreme cold created one of the most severe weather events in modern Appalachian history.
Historical Significance: The Blizzard of 1993 remains the standard by which all subsequent winter storms are measured in the High Country. “As bad as '93” is still heard whenever major winter weather threatens the region.
💧 2018: ALL-TIME WETTEST YEAR ON RECORD
Record-Shattering Precipitation
The calendar year 2018 officially became the wettest year on record for Boone, Watauga County, and the High Country—shattering previous records and demonstrating the increasing intensity of precipitation events in the region.
The Numbers:
Official Boone Total
93.42″
Boone 1 SE weather station
Previous Record
82.79″
Recorded in 1979
Record Broken By
10.63″
Nearly 11 inches above old record
Normal Annual Total
52.66″
2018 was 177% of normal
CoCoRaHS Observer Totals (Over 100 inches!):
| Location | Total Precipitation | Days Reported |
|---|---|---|
| Foscoe 1.2 WSW | 112.70 inches | 361 of 365 days |
| Blowing Rock 2.2 NE | 111.78 inches | Full year |
| Blowing Rock 4.4 NE | 103.05 inches | Full year |
| Seven Devils 0.1 | 100.94 inches | Full year |
| Boone 4.6 E | 100.21 inches | Full year |
Key Statistics:
- 195 days out of 365 recorded precipitation at Boone 1 SE
- December 2018: 10.29 inches (wettest Boone December on record, breaking 1931 record of 9.04″)
- 2000-2018 Total: 1,129.05 inches of precipitation at Boone 1 SE
- 2010-2018 Total: 571.58 inches (over half the 19-year total fell in just 9 years)
- Third Wettest Year: 76.36 inches in 1949
- Driest Year: 39.37 inches in 1943
Historical Context:
Weather records for Boone have been kept by three different official weather stations since 1929. The reporting station from 1929 to 1980 has some years with incomplete/missing data, which could mean even higher totals. For example, the year of the Great Flood—1940—only shows 56.97 inches with 77 days of missing data.
The current Boone 1 SE reporting station has been recording data since June 1980 for precipitation and temperature, while the Watauga Medical Center station is used for wind records.
What Caused 2018's Record Rainfall?
According to NWS meteorologist Vance Joyner: “There were a mixture of a lot of complicated worldwide phenomenons that happened to come together the right way to dump a lot of rain on us.”
While no single factor can be identified, the record rainfall reflects broader climate trends showing increased precipitation intensity in the Southern Appalachians—a pattern that would culminate in the catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene in 2024.
Regional Comparison:
- West Jefferson: 79.43 inches (also a record)
- Multiple locations: Over 100 inches countywide
- Pattern: Higher elevations consistently recorded more precipitation
Impacts:
- Saturated soil conditions throughout the year
- Localized flooding events
- Mudslides and road washouts
- Increased awareness of flood-prone areas (led to creation of flood mapping resources)
- Demonstrated the region's vulnerability to extreme precipitation events
🏫 SCHOOL WEATHER CLOSINGS HISTORY
Watauga County Schools (1975-Present)
638+ Days of School Missed Due to Weather
Since the 1975-76 school year, 638 days of school have been missed due to inclement weather in Watauga County Schools—the equivalent of more than 3 full school years lost to winter storms, ice events, and occasional tropical weather.
Key Statistics at a Glance:
Total Years Tracked
44+
1975-76 through present
Total Days Missed
638+
Due to inclement weather
Average Per Year
14.5
Days missed annually
Years with 10+ Closings
80%
35 of 44 years
Record Years:
- Most Closings: 39 days (1977-78 school year) — The record holder
- Second Most: 33 days (1976-77 school year)
- Back-to-Back Brutal Winters: 72 days missed over 1976-78
- Fewest Closings: 4 days (1990-91 school year) — The anomaly
- Third Most: 26 days (2009-10 school year)
Monthly Breakdown (1975-2019):
| Month | Days Missed | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| January | 236 | 37% |
| February | 198 | 31% |
| December | 88 | 14% |
| March | 74 | 12% |
| November | 22 | 3% |
| September | 7 | 1% |
| April | 7 | 1% |
| Other Months | 6 | <1% |
Key Insight: January and February account for 68% of all closings (434 of 638 days), demonstrating the consistency of severe High Country winters.
Appalachian State University Weather Closings
💭 “They Never Closed When I Was in School…”
Actually, they did! App State has closed or canceled classes due to weather at least 50+ times since 1974. From blizzards to hurricanes, ice storms to extreme cold, the university has a longer closing history than many people remember.
Key Historical Closings:
- January 28, 1986: Day of Challenger disaster—classes before noon canceled due to cold/snow
- September 22, 1989: Hurricane Hugo caused floods and a sinkhole in the Legends parking lot
- March 12-14, 1993: Blizzard of 1993—Extended closure for “Storm of the Century”
- January 2003: Multiple closings for snow and ice (6-8 inches on Jan 23-24)
- 2010s: Most weather closings in App State history, particularly 2013-2016 winters
- February 2015: Multiple closings for severe wind chill (below -20°F predicted)
- January 2016: Major blizzard closure (15-30 inches of snow)
- September 2018: Hurricane Florence closure (Sept 12-18)
- March 2020: COVID-19 pandemic—Extended closure beginning March 16
Notable Patterns:
- 2010s Decade: Saw the most weather closings in App State history
- Improved Forecasting: Greater emphasis on student safety led to more proactive closures
- Variety of Events: Closings due to snow, ice, extreme cold, wind chill, tropical systems, and even sinkholes
- Partial Closures Common: Often only morning classes or classes after certain hours were canceled
Historical Note:
A record exists of an App State closing on February 20, 1943, but it's unknown if it was due to snow or another weather event. This is an unofficial list based on information from the ASU news bureau, newspaper accounts, and other unofficial records. There may be additional closings not documented, particularly in earlier decades.
📊 Data Sources & Methodology
Weather data for the High Country is collected from multiple authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and comprehensive coverage:
- 📡 National Weather Service (NWS) Blacksburg – Official weather observations, forecasts, and warnings
- 📡 North Carolina State Climate Office – Historical climate data, analysis, and records
- 📡 CoCoRaHS Network – Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network volunteer observers
- 📡 NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data and archives
- 📡 USGS – U.S. Geological Survey stream gauges and earthquake monitoring
- 📡 Watauga County Emergency Services – Local emergency management reports
- 📡 Watauga Medical Center – Official wind observation station
- 📡 Boone 1 SE Station – Official precipitation and temperature station since June 1980
- 📡 School Administrative Records – Watauga County Schools and Appalachian State University
- 📡 Historical Newspapers – Archived accounts of historic weather events
- 📡 Local Observations – Kenneth Reece, WataugaOnline.com compilation and research
Coverage Period: Complete records vary by phenomenon. Wind gust data begins September 2005, school closing records begin 1975-76, while some temperature and precipitation records extend back to 1893.
Data Compilation: Much like the High Country Earthquake History, High Country Tornado Data, and Boone Wind Gust History pages, this comprehensive database was created because no easily accessible online local resource existed to consolidate this information in one place.
Update Frequency: This database is continuously updated as new weather events occur and historical information becomes available.
Data compiled and maintained by Kenneth Reece, WataugaOnline.com
Last Updated: November 2024