Weather Info Please, ASAP!

[doritotex]

Forecast for Greene Co TN..A winter storm warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Significant amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous. In addition... Snowfall intensities will be heavy enough to substantially reduce visibilities at times. Travel is discouraged.
a significant winter storm to affect the southern appalachian region tonight through Wednesday morning...
.a strong upper-level storm system will bring strong winds and abundant moisture as far south as southwest Virginia...northeast Tennessee...and the smoky mountains. With the cold air in place across the area...snow showers are expected to continue over the higher elevations and persist through Wednesday morning. The snow is forecast to intensify tonight as the system strengthens and moisture increases. This will result in the likelihood for some significant snowfall totals across the higher elevations areas of southwest Virginia and east Tennessee...particularly tonight through Tuesday night...before it begins to taper off and end by Wednesday morning. Some valley locations could receive some accumulating snowfall as well...particularly across southwest Virginia. However...these snowfall accumulations are expected to be very elevation dependent..
snow accumulations of 6 to 24 inches will be possible by Wednesday morning...mainly across elevations above 2500 feet. Localized areas above 5000 feet may receive between 24 to 35 inches. Blizzard conditions will be possible at times...with wind gusts up to 50 mph. Visibilities may drop to near a quarter mile at times with blowing snow.

[doritotex]

People need to chill out. The hurricane ain't even close. Roanoke is looking at 25mph winds. Damascus a little less. That is pretty boring if you ask me. 67mph on Mt. Washington right now.

We have three sided shelters on this trail that can protect from falling limbs and just throw your tent up in it to stay out of the wind.

If you have good site selection then even nasty storms are mild. I hammocked during the derecho this summer and since I was in a good spot, it rocked me to sleep.

It's not the hurricane that people should be worried about in the SW VA/NE TN area, it's the cold front that is clashing with the massive amounts of moisture from the hurricane. There is a possibilty that places like Roan Mtn could get 3 feet of snow. This time of year hikers are not prepared for that! People could be caught unprepared and it could be life threatening.

[JJJ]

Yes, Sandy is the warm weather cousin of our storm.

My guess from the weather I've read today is the higher elevation between Whitetop and Roan will be significantly worse than Damascus @2000'. Especially wind which equals falling tree/limbs. That would be my concern assuming I'm prepared for possibly 12-24" of snow. You want to be very selective about which tree you camp under in windy conditions.

TOW, I'd say don't send him out -until the wind lays at least.

[10-K]

I picked up a hiker this afternoon where the AT crosses Buck Mt. Rd about 3 miles north of 19E. It was a winter wonderland - I'm guessing the Humps and Roan Mt. are getting a big dump as I type.

[HikerMom58]

I picked up a hiker this afternoon where the AT crosses Buck Mt. Rd about 3 miles north of 19E. It was a winter wonderland - I'm guessing the Humps and Roan Mt. are getting a big dump as I type.

Interesting 10-K and 19E is about 75 miles south of Damascus... It is snowing near Blacksburg in the higher elevations, they have 3 inches already.

doritotex... you are spot ON... we are caught in some kind of wedge between the edge of Sandy and a cold front coming at us from the west.

[neonshaw]

its going to be bad above 4000', i wouldnt want to be hiking in that, you may be holed up at a shelter for a few days

[wnderer]

Just a reminder how freakin big this thing is.

[f5mandopicker]

It's not the hurricane that people should be worried about in the SW VA/NE TN area, it's the cold front that is clashing with the massive amounts of moisture from the hurricane. There is a possibilty that places like Roan Mtn could get 3 feet of snow. This time of year hikers are not prepared for that! People could be caught unprepared and it could be life threatening.

Don't go. It's not worth the risk and I doubt you will enjoy the experience.

[mountain squid]

Just took a quick hike out to the Osborne Farm at TN91 and Cross Mountain Rd. There is snow . . . about 6-8 inches of it. From my house I can see the snow covered trees across Iron Mt. Probably a foot of snow up there.

Roan High Knob has 24 inches per the news. There appears to be a 'warming trend' coming soon, but SOBOs should be cautious as it may be difficult to actually find the trail and follow it . . .

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See you on the trail,
mt squid

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[MedicineWoman2012]

Nice photos..thanks mt squid

[Praha4]

most of the southbounders I met near Mt Rogers 2 weeks ago were talking like the rest of their thru was gonna be a cakewalk, all they ever hear is how tuff NH and Maine are, and the rest of the trail is easy. Got news for 'em, the rest of the trail in these winter storm conditions will not be a cakewalk. They laughed at me when I told 'em about early spring 2010 in the Smokies and postholing.