Called ‘the storm of the century,’ those who lived through the record-breaking snowfall of 1993 still talk about it to this day. The strangest part about this snow is that it didn’t occur during your normal snowfall months; it created catastrophe in the middle of March. Just as students at UNC Asheville were preparing for spring break they woke up to over two feet of snow. Throughout the southeast, the storm brought devastation to more than just the Tar Heel State, and although it’s not the largest blizzard in North Carolina history, it still holds records to this day.

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Snow was reported at around 19 inches in Asheville and it was so severe, the Army had to be sent in to rescue people. Today it has several names: The 1993 Storm of the Century, '93 Superstorm, or Great Blizzard of 1993. But how did this superstorm even begin?
Wikimedia Commons / NASA
On March 12th, a large cyclonic storm formed over the Gulf of Mexico. At its largest, the storm spanned from Canada to Central America.

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Snowfall and extreme winter weather in North Carolina isn't a foreign concept to the western portion of the state, like in other regions of the south, but the amount of snow that fell caught residents completely off guard. Seemingly overnight, it developed into one of the biggest snowstorms in North Carolina history, dropping two feet of snow that blanketed towns from Boone and Banner Elk to Asheville. The storm was an equivalent of a Category-3 hurricane and strangely enough, lightning and thunder sounded throughout the night as snow poured from the sky.
Youtube / Tom Culver
Boone saw two to three feet of snow in just 24 hours during the North Carolina Blizzard of 1993. On top of that, wind gusts were measured at 110 MPH and for the first time in history, Appalachian State University had to shut down classes and the school for an entire week. The highest point east of the Mississippi, Mount Mitchell, reported snow drifts at up to 14 feet. Stranded motorists had to resort to breaking into Parkwood Elementary School to survive while National Guard helicopters had to drop hay in fields to keep livestock from dying. Across the southeast there were a reported 60,000 lightning strikes.
Flickr / Perry Nelson
It wasn't just extreme snowfall but extreme below freezing temperatures that contributed to the disaster throughout the western region of the state. Mix below-20 temps with thousands stranded or without power and it's a recipe for disaster.

Seven deaths were reported from the storm and the state of North Carolina report summed up "The Governor declared 25 western counties and 15 eastern counties disaster areas. The Red Cross reported that 55 homes were destroyed and over 3,300 others were damaged by the storm.

"The major impact to the western part of the state was from heavy snow accumulation resulting in extensive road blockages, stranded motorists, and in the mountains, lost hikers and campers. Strong winds and heavy snow brought down trees, limbs, and power lines leaving many without heat or electricity or telephone service. At one point, Polk County reported 99% of its electrical customers without power. Statewide and estimated 300,000 homes were left without power and over 160 thousand people were reported to be snowbound by the storm. Over 2,700 traffic accidents were reported during the storm by State Highway Patrol, some resulting in fatalities." - State of North Carolina Report

While today we pray for no severe storms of this caliber, we can still look back and reminisce thanks to those who recorded video footage and put it on Youtube.

Like this video by Tom Culver showing the Deerfield Neighborhood in Boone.

This video by jleepixprod’s channel shows the damage caused to Boone and Banner Elk, and even some brave souls venturing out in the snow.

For the majority of readers, you lived through this blizzard yourself and probably have a story or two to tell. What did you remember about The Storm of the Century?

While many are aware and lived through the storm, there’s another part of North Carolina history that is somewhat unknown although it almost destroyed the entire state.

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Largest Blizzard In North Carolina

Robin Jarvis | December 14, 2019

When was the biggest blizzard in North Carolina?

The biggest recorded snowfall from one storm system moving through North Carolina occurred between April 2, 1987 and April 6, 1987. As a massive storm passed over the state, a record 60 inches of snow fell in western North Carolina in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In particular, the Newfound Gap area along the North Carolina/Tennessee state line was hard hit. Annual snowfall at Newfound Gap averages 43.5 to 100.6 inches per winter season.

What is the most snow ever recorded in North Carolina?

The most snow ever recorded in North Carolina in a 24-hour period was during the Storm of the Century in 1993. At Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the state at 6,684 feet, a record 36 inches of snow fell in one 24-hour period on March 13, 1993.

What is winter weather in North Carolina typically like?

The varying terrain and elevations throughout North Carolina create myriad average temperatures that cannot be pinned to just one region. If looking for average temperatures during winter however, along the coast, Wilmington's average temperature in January is 54 degrees. Moving to the extreme other side of the state, which is known for higher elevations, the average January temperature in Banner Elk, found in Highlands of North Carolina, is a mere 41 degrees. Higher peaks, of course, can be as much as 10-15 degrees cooler than the plateaus found in the Highlands. From coastal getaways along the Outer Banks all the way to the mountains in Western North Carolina, visitors can find a world of winter activities in which to enjoy a snowy - or a sunny - getaway.

 

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