NORTH CAROLINA — A dangerous burst of wind is expected to ramp up tonight through Saturday, with the strongest gusts aimed at the Blue Ridge Escarpment and North Carolina High Country, where some exposed ridges could briefly flirt with near hurricane-force wind conditions.
What the Latest Wind Forecast Shows
Forecasters say the highest winds arrive overnight and peak Saturday morning, driven by a tight pressure gradient behind a departing cold front and very strong winds just above the surface.
In the mountains and just east of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, gusts are expected to range 50–70 mph, with a few higher, more exposed ridgetop locations possibly touching 75 mph. Across the valleys and much of the rest of the state, gusts of 35–50 mph may still be strong enough to cause scattered issues through Saturday afternoon.
Where the Strongest Impacts Are Most Likely
The greatest concern is focused on the High Country and higher elevations, including communities and corridors near the Blue Ridge and the Tennessee border.
A High Wind Warning has been issued for a wide swath of mountain counties and ranges, including areas such as Avery, Yancey, Mitchell, Buncombe, southern Jackson, Transylvania, Henderson, Caldwell Mountain areas, Burke Mountains, McDowell Mountains, Rutherford Mountains, Polk Mountains, Ashe, Alleghany, and Watauga—where the odds of seeing 50–70+ mph gusts are highest.
What This Could Mean for Power, Travel, and Safety
Damaging winds can bring down trees and power lines, leading to isolated to scattered power outages, especially where gusts are strongest and soils are soft. Residents should also expect loose outdoor items to blow around and potentially become hazards…