Elevation spread
A single number for “Asheville” is wrong for most of the people reading it. There is a 3,000-foot spread inside one county here, and that spread decides whether you get rain, wet snow, or an inch of ice on the trees. This page shows the whole vertical range at once.
No snow line in play
Where precipitation changes over from rain to snow
No snow level is being forecast right now, which generally means precipitation is falling as rain at every elevation.
Right now, by elevation
Temperature is changing about 3.5°F per 1,000 ft as you climb
View this profile as a table
| Location | Elevation | Temp | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville–Spartanburg Airport | 964 ft | 86°F | Observed |
| Rutherford County Airport | 1,077 ft | 79°F | Observed |
| Hickory Regional Airport | 1,190 ft | 75°F | Observed |
| Foothills Regional Airport | 1,270 ft | 82°F | Observed |
| Murphy | 1,601 ft | 78°F | Modeled |
| Andrews | 1,750 ft | 78°F | Modeled |
| Macon County Airport | 2,020 ft | 81°F | Observed |
| Hendersonville | 2,146 ft | 76°F | Modeled |
| Asheville Regional Airport | 2,165 ft | 79°F | Observed |
| Waynesville | 2,657 ft | 77°F | Modeled |
| Burnsville | 2,814 ft | 75°F | Modeled |
| Jackson County Airport | 2,857 ft | 74°F | Observed |
| Ashe County Airport | 3,180 ft | 70°F | Observed |
| Boone | 3,333 ft | 71°F | Modeled |
| Beech Mountain | 5,506 ft | 64°F | Modeled |
| Grandfather Mountain | 5,946 ft | 65°F | Modeled |
| Waterrock Knob | 6,292 ft | 65°F | Modeled |
| Mount Mitchell | 6,684 ft | 60°F | Modeled |
What the profile means
Normal temperature profile. Temperature is falling with elevation at about 3.5°F per 1,000 ft, which is close to normal.
Air near the valley floor is close to saturation, but without an inversion or with wind mixing it out, widespread fog is less likely.
Elevation bands
Estimated conditions across each band, from the fitted profile
Below 2,500 ft
Around 80°F — above freezing
The valleys and foothills.
2,500 – 3,500 ft
Around 74°F — above freezing
The mid slopes.
3,500 – 4,500 ft
Around 71°F — above freezing
The upper slopes.
Above 4,500 ft
Around 65°F — above freezing
The high peaks and balds.
Band temperatures are estimated from the observed profile above, not measured at every elevation. Treat them as the shape of the mountain, not a reading.
Passes and gaps
Conditions at the top of each grade, not at the towns on either end
Pigeon River Gorge
I-40 west to Tennessee · 1,730 ft · 78°F
Narrow canyon with rockslide exposure and no shoulder. Fog and freezing spray hold in the gorge long after the ridges clear, and closures reroute traffic hours out of the way.
Saluda Grade
I-26 east into South Carolina · 2,097 ft · 76°F
The steepest sustained mainline grade in the East. Rain at the bottom is frequently freezing rain at the top, and the transition happens in about four miles.
Blue Ridge Parkway — Craggy Gardens
Blue Ridge Parkway · 5,892 ft · 61°F
Closes first and reopens last. Rime ice forms here when valley temperatures are well above freezing, and gates go up without much notice.
US-19E — Spruce Pine to Elk Park
US-19E · 3,100 ft · 72°F
Primary route for the Toe River valley with limited alternates. Flood-prone along the river and icy on the climbs at either end.
NC-80 — Buck Creek Gap
NC-80 · 3,200 ft · 73°F
Tight switchbacks climbing to the Parkway. Shaded north-facing curves stay iced over well into the afternoon after a freeze.
Road status is not reported here. For closures and live cameras, check DriveNC.
Get the snow line by email
When a winter event is coming, we send one email with the forecast snow level, which elevations flip to snow, and when. No daily noise.