Season’s first snow covers mountains in western North Carolina
Mount Mitchell in North Carolina recorded its first snowfall of the season on Thursday morning, October 30, 2025, roughly a month before the start of meteorological winter, as a cold front lowered snow levels to around 1 524 m (5 000 feet).
First snow fall of the season at Mount Mitchell, North Carolina on October 30, 2025. Credit: NC High Peaks Trail Association
Mount Mitchell in North Carolina recorded the first snowfall of the season on Thursday morning — one month before the start of the meteorological winter.
The snowfall was caused by a cold front that lowered snow levels to 1 524 m (5 000 feet); low enough for Mount Mitchell, which stands at 2 037 m (6 684 feet), to receive a fresh coating of snow.
Higher-elevation areas across western North Carolina, including the Blue Ridge Parkway, continued to experience snowfall on Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, trace amounts of snow and rime ice were reported above 1 829 m (6 000 feet) at Richland Balsam on Friday morning.
Rime ice refers to the opaque, frosty coating often seen on electric poles and trees during winter. It forms when supercooled water droplets come into contact with a cold surface and freeze. It appears opaque and feathery, growing in the direction of the wind, which gives it a spiky and delicate structure.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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