March 2013 Snowfall in GA

[tarantolk]

I'm wondering where I can find documented snowfall of this past March-April 2013 from GA through the Smokies. Or, if anyone who was hiking could let me know when it snowed, that'd be great just for personal knowledge. Thanks!

[Davos]

You could try the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center's interactive snow information. Select the date over on the left and hit the 'Redraw Map' button.

[Gray Blazer]

March 24, 2006 Nantahalas. Below freezing 4 days in a row. Don't know about last year. One year there was a huge snowstorm in May that dumped about 6 feet of snow on the parkway at Pisgah. There was still snow on the ground when I visited in June. Can't help with 2013.

[Natureflixs]

January 2011 just north of ATL GA. Total accumulation 6 inches.
snow-1-11.jpg

[Praha4]

a suggestion is go to Trail Journals and look over some NOBO Mar-Apr 2013 entries and photos. Late March-2013 there was some big snow that hit the southern Appalachians, going thru the Smokies was very tough. April 5th there was a late snow storm in SW Virginia. Blacksburg got like 7 inches, Roanoke had over 5 inches. I was starting an Atkins to Daleville, VA section that next morning, had 3-5 inches of snow on the trail all day. It warmed up fast, most of the snow was gone in a couple days. Trail Journals I would recommend looking over are for "Bluesman" and "Lady Grey". Both have pics of the snow in Mar-April thru the Smokies.

[Venchka]

ChinMusic also reported being chased off the trail into a nice warm motel by snow. Contact him by personal message or search WhiteBlaze for his accounts of the rail conditions in March & April.
Looking at the snow depth map linked to above, the heaviest snow accumulations in late March were in a small of area of GSMNP and more widespread along the TN-NC border from north of Asheville, NC to north of Boone, NC. The accounts of last spring from my daughter in Boone were pretty nasty. The grandkids were out of school a LOT!
Every year is different. Be prepared.

Wayne

[hikerboy57]

march in the southern appalachians -anything goes. we had rain sleet, ice storms, snow storms, and sunny days in the 50s

[Venchka]

A few entries from late March here at WhiteBlaze...

3/25 Trapped in Gatlinburg

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3 Comments
by smsinnh
, 03-26-2013 at 05:54 (443 Views)

Woke up to snow and after debating with myself whether or not to hit the trail at Newfound Gap the Park Service made the decision for me by closing the only road to the trailhead. With wind advisories and heavy snow predicted for the high elevations it is probably just as well that I will be spending another day here in Gatlinburg. The motel I am staying at is jammed packed with hikers so I will have plenty of company as I while away the hours. Hopefully the road will be reopened tomorrow so I can make tracks. I am planning on meeting my wife in Hot Springs on Saturday and have 67 miles to go ....need to get moving

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Snow & an early mention of the dreaded virus...

Snow, snow, etc.

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by ComptonAT
, 03-26-2013 at 11:01 (304 Views)

Small updates:

We are still at the hostel/cabins. Our food came in yesterday, which is what we were waiting for, but I also came down with some sort of stomach bug. We didn't want to get the other hikers sick so we moved into a cabin. It snowed all day yesterday and hasn't stopped snowing yet. As of right now it seems there are a few inches of snow on the ground - in the valley. Hikers that have come in said the trail was pretty bad. So, it seems I have some time to recover from this bug, and hopefully we can head out tomorrow.

We have selected trails names! Clay is "Mud," because his name is basically that and our tent was covered in mud during a thunderstorm. My trail name is "Osa," Spanish for lady bear. Clay named me that because of all the bears I normally see. I'm pretty sure the bears are still hibernating up here since we haven't seen any yet.

Keep all of us hikers in your thoughts - this "spring" looks a lot like winter and winter was long enough!

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Post from Georgia...

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...ght=March+snow

Gatlinburg again...

3/27 More Still Stuck in Gatlinburg

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by smsinnh
, 03-27-2013 at 15:53 (292 Views)

The road to newfound gap is still closed due to snow and ice And despite what my brother in law John says there are only so many times you can walk through Gatlinburg. There are several hikers stranded here in town and the consensus is that given the hazardous trail conditions it is probably just as well to lie low for another day or two and play it safe. The waiting around is frustrating but the way I see it it's just another story line to my adventure

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3/27 Anxious to get going again...

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by smsinnh
, 03-27-2013 at 18:17 (526 Views)

My Gatlinburg sentence has been commuted by the National Park Service. The road and trail closures have been lifted. I will be heading up tomorrow morning with Tiki and Zoot to resume the hike. There is no way I can make the 67 miles to Hot Springs by Saturday but the 34 miles to Davenport Gap, where Jan can pick me up, should be doable.
I spoke to a couple of hikers who came off the mountain today. They told me that there is 12 to 18 inches of snow on the trail but conditions are improving. There were a couple in their group who continued on so the trail will be blazed by the time we start tomorrow =:0

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Photos...

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...ght=March+snow

3/29 Snow, as advertised

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by smsinnh
, 03-29-2013 at 20:06 (431 Views)

Good Morning..no signal yesterday or last night... Did 15.6 miles from Newfound Gap to Tri Corner Knob Shelter. Took shuttle yesterday am to Newfound Gap to hit the trail early. As advertised, 18 inches of snow greeted us once we got into the higher elevations. It was a true winter wonderland, stunning views everywhere.
Started with a 1000 foot climb through the heaviest snow. Felt like the Grin...ch climbing Mt Crumpet! As the day progressed the temps rose and snow became heavy and wet and made for an arduous slog. Day was memorable for 2 reasons:
One, it was the most beautiful hike so far; two, it was the most physically challenging so far. Will be reaching the northern border of the Smoky Mountains today. They were magnificent but also harsh and unforgiving. I will be happy to leave them behind. Great pics will be coming in the next couple of days as I get a more solid signal (hoping). I am sure based on my progress that I will beat Jan to Davenport Gap on Saturday....Thanks again for everyone's support and comments and motivating words...Totally loving this experience!

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2013 was an interesting year on the southern 1/4 of the AT. The snow stopped sometime in April. Then the rain started in early May. We were in/around Hot Springs & Boone the first week of June. Still raining. Last I heard, it was still raining on July 4-5-6.
Have fun!

Wayne